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Mitchell Watsky, PhD, Named Associate Dean for

Graduate Health Sciences in the College of Medicine, Memphis Campus, at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

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Memphis, Tenn. (October 8, 2009) – Steve J. Schwab, MD, interim chancellor and executive dean for the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and Cheryl Scheid, PhD, UTHSC vice chancellor for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs, and interim dean for the College of Graduate Health Sciences, named Mitchell Watsky, PhD, as associate dean for Graduate Health Sciences in the College of Medicine, Memphis campus.  Dr. Watsky assumed his new role on October 1.  The UTHSC College of Graduate Health Sciences grants PhD and master’s degrees in the health sciences.  This appointment reflects the cooperation and interdependence of the College of Medicine and the College of Graduate Health Sciences in the vital task of advanced health science education.

Dr. Watsky obtained his PhD in 1989 from the Medical College of Wisconsin.  He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in physiology and biophysics with the Mayo Foundation under the tutelage of James Rae, PHD.  Dr. Watsky joined UTHSC in1992 as an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology, and has since been awarded tenure as full professor within the department.

He has garnered numerous awards and honors throughout his career.  With more than 50 publications in peer reviewed journals, he has served as principal investigator on numerous current and past grant awards.  Dr. Watsky chaired the Physiology Department Graduate Committee from 1995 to present, and has had significant involvement in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program as a track director and member of various advisory committees.

The search committee was led by Charles Handorf, MD, PhD, chair for the UTHSC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.  The search committee also included chairs from all four basic science departments along with representation from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Graduate Student Executive Committee.  Dr. Watsky emerged as an ideal candidate to lead graduate studies in the College of Medicine.

“Dr Watsky has demonstrated his dedication to graduate education and trainees in the College of Medicine, and has exceptional and innovative ideas on how to make our program better,” noted Dr. Schwab. 

“I am happy to be able to continue my work with the graduate programs at UTHSC, and look forward to working with the students, faculty and leadership of the colleges of Medicine and Graduate Health Sciences," stated Dr. Watsky.

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.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main 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.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

 

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