The Wayne State University School of Medicine recently announced the appointment of Valerie M. Parisi, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., as vice dean for hospital relations and clinical affairs and senior advisor to the chairman/CEO of the University Physician Group.

Previously, Dr. Parisi served as chief academic officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, after serving as dean of medicine, overseeing 20 departments and more than 4,000 employees. Her extensive background includes leadership roles in obstetrics and gynecology in academic medical environments in Texas, New York and North Carolina.

"As we develop our strategic plan to enhance regional health-care partnerships in Southeast Michigan, we need a national expert in innovation to be with us at the forefront," said Robert M. Mentzer, Jr., M.D., dean, WSU of Medicine." Dr. Parisi will play a key leadership role in moving our School forward."

Born and raised in New York, Dr. Parisi entered the first seven-year medical degree class at Brown University at age 16. After earning her M.D., she received an M.P.H. from the University of California-Berkley and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina. Her research interests have been in control of fetal placental circulation and mechanisms of perinatal asphyxia. She is the author of more than 60 scientific articles and books and has served on the teaching faculty of the executive M.B.A. program at Rice University.