I write to apprise you of progress on two searches for the Wayne State University School of Medicine department chairpersons, internal medicine and pathology; and announce the search for a director of the cardiovascular research institute, which will be a new multidisciplinary focus of the School.

As important members of School of Medicine's community, we turn to you for nominations of well-qualified internal and external individuals for these positions.

Chairperson, Department of Internal Medicine

The search committee for the next chairperson of the Department of Internal Medicine was delivered its charge in January, 2007. Executive Vice Dean Robert R. Frank is the chair of this committee. The committee membership may be found on the enclosed website link (http://www.med.wayne.edu/admin/intmed_chairsearch/).

The committee is currently reviewing candidate nominations and applications. It is anticipated that candidates will be invited to visit as early as May.

Chairperson, Department of Pathology

The search process for the next chairperson of the Department of Pathology is currently underway. The committee, which will be chaired by Dr. Suzanne White, the chairperson of the Department of Emergency Medicine, will be comprised of members elected by the departmental faculty, selected by the Dean and our affiliated hospital partners. I hope to have the committee established by the end of March.

As part of its charge, the chair search committees are asked to interview candidates and deliver a "short list" of 3 candidates to the dean for consideration.

Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute

The director will coordinate and foster interdisciplinary and collaborative research in cardiovascular disease that crosses departments, centers, institutes, and as appropriate, schools/colleges. Research will range from bench to bedside and the specific foci of research activities will vary accordingly. Specifically, the role of the director will be to mentor faculty with interest in cardiovascular research; identify needs for the enhancement of cardiovascular research productivity; develop new cores and enhance existing cores to facilitate interactions among basic, clinical and translational cardiovascular researchers to expand the overall extramurally funded research portfolio for the School and WSU.

If you know of any potential candidates for any of the above positions, please forward his/her name, institution and any possible contact information you may have to Ms. Caryn Volpe (cvolpe@med.wayne.edu) who will ensure that the respective Committees receive your nominations.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Mentzer, Jr., MD
Dean, School of Medicine
Senior Advisor to the President for Medical Affairs
Wayne State University