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Five Finalists Selected in Search for Vice Chancellor of Research at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

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Memphis, Tenn. (April 29, 2011) – The search committee charged with finding top candidates for the position as vice chancellor for Research at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has selected five finalists.  Over the next few weeks, each of the finalists will visit the main UTHSC campus in Memphis for interviews.

The finalists are:

·         John S. Adams, MD, Vice Chair of Research for Orthopaedic Surgery, Director of Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medicine and Molecular, Cell and Development Biology, University of California, Los Angeles

·         James B. Dale, MD, Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Executive Director, UT Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Associate Vice Chancellor of Research, and Gene H. Stollerman Professor of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

·         Stephan Ladisch, MD, Vice Chair for External Affairs, Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Bosworth Chair for Cancer, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Medical Center

·         Jeff M. Sands, MD, Executive Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Director, Renal Division and Juha P. KoKo Professor of Medicine and Physiology, Emory University School of Medicine

·         Stephen Strakowski, MD, Director, Center for Imaging Research, Physicians Director of Research, Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati

The 17-member search committee selected the finalists earlier this month.  Co-chaired by L. Darryl Quarles, MD, associate dean for Research at UTHSC, and GaborTigyi, MD, PhD, Harriet Van Vleet Professor and chair in the Department of Physiology at UTHSC, the committee represents a broad-based group of faculty and UTHSC hospital partners.

“As a committee, our mission is to recommend to Chancellor Steve Schwab a list of proven leaders who will aggressively promote the continued success of UTHSC’s academic programs, research initiatives and national reputation of excellence,” Dr. Tigyi said.

            “We are pleased with the initial, diverse pool of applicants we reviewed.  We consider each of the five finalists to be a well-qualified, capable leader and we look forward to hosting them on campus,” Dr. Quarles added.

Each finalist will take part in two full days of meetings in Memphis.  The campus visits will provide UTHSC administrators, faculty and staff a chance to familiarize themselves with each candidate, as well as give each candidate an opportunity to get acquainted with the main UTHSC campus.

The search for a new vice chancellor began in December 2010.  The search committee, with the assistance of Spencer Stuart Search, a Chicago-based firm, with 51 offices in 27 countries, considered more than 35 candidates.  Nine were chosen for a round of preliminary interviews earlier this month.  From that group, the five finalists were selected.  After the campus interviews, the committee will provide Chancellor Schwab with its evaluation of the candidates.

The vice chancellor for Research is responsible for leading efforts to build the research enterprise and infrastructure at UTHSC.  The position will serve as reporting official for the Director of UT’s Research Foundation to facilitate commercial development of novel research findings.  Reporting to the Chancellor, the vice chancellor will also advise the Chancellor on matters of university research policy, vision, strategic planning and long-range budgeting.  The vice chancellor will also work closely with the deans of the six colleges to integrate the research and educational missions of UTHSC. 

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service.  In 2011, UT Health Science Center celebrates its centennial: 100 years advancing the future of health care.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main UTHSC campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  UTHSC has additional colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy plus an Allied Health Sciences unit in Knoxville, as well as a College of Medicine campus in Chattanooga.  Since its founding in 1911, UTHSC has educated and trained more than 53,000 health care professionals on campuses and in health care facilities across the state.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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