DEAN SELECTED FOR VIRGINIA’S NEWEST MEDICAL SCHOOL

Cynda Ann Johnson, MD, MBA will join the college of medicine, jointly operated by Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic - in January, 2008

Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech are very pleased to announce that Cynda Ann Johnson, MD, MBA, has accepted the position of Founding Dean of the Clinic and University’s joint College of Medicine. Dr. Johnson comes to Roanoke from East Carolina University, where she was Dean and Professor of Family Medicine at the Brody School of Medicine. She most recently served as ECU’s Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical and Translational Research.

“Dr. Johnson brings a broad and distinguished career as a physician leader, educator, academician, and national leader in healthcare and medical education,” said Carilion President and CEO, Edward G. Murphy, MD. “Her experience and strengths will complement the strong faculty at Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech and further provide the leadership and vision needed to successfully develop and launch our new medical school.”

“This appointment is another step in our journey toward a successful medical school and enhanced translational research programs,” said Virginia Tech President Dr. Charles Steger. “Together we will continue to grow a dynamic and energetic relationship between Virginia Tech, Carilion and the Roanoke Valley which provides leadership in medical education, transforms health care delivery in our region, and contributes important research which informs the well-being and healthcare of our communities.”

Dr. Johnson graduated from Stanford University and the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at the University of Kansas and a fellowship in Faculty Development at the University Of North Carolina School Of Medicine. She served as Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at both the University of Iowa and the University of Kansas. She has been a long time director of the American Board of Medical Specialties, currently serving as Board Chair. Her national leadership roles are numerous across medical education, the field of family medicine, and as an advocate for women in medicine.

“We will benefit greatly from her experience and wisdom leading medical schools and being a national thought leader in medical education,” said Carilion Chief Medical Officer Mark Werner, MD. “Her experience, insights, and wisdom about the role and approaches to translation research will help us to further energize the work already underway across Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic.”

Dr. Johnson will be a member of the Deans Council at Virginia Tech working alongside her fellow deans and with the Provost’s office to integrate the medical school into the University and assure collaborative supportive relationships across Virginia Tech, Carilion Clinic, and the medical school. She will be a senior physician leader within Carilion Clinic working alongside the Clinic’s clinical chairs and Chief Medical Officer to provide the same integration and collaboration in their efforts devoted to excellence in medical education, research, and patient care.

Dr. Johnson will begin her role as Dean in January of 2008. The college of medicine will welcome its inaugural class in the fall of 2010.