Arthur J. Ross III, M.D., M.B.A., dean of Chicago Medical School and vice president for medical affairs of Rosalind Franklin University, was named dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine today (June 4).

A respected researcher and award-winning teacher, Dr. Ross, 61, was selected by WVU Chancellor Christopher Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., following a national search. He will begin his new role in August.

“Dr. Ross is an outstanding individual and we are very fortunate to have him lead the School of Medicine,” Chancellor Colenda said. “Dr. Ross has a distinguished track record as a pediatric surgeon and as an academic leader in Chicago. He brings vision, energy and considerable talent to this important position.”

Ross is board certified in both general surgery and pediatric surgery. He graduated with honors from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University and did his residency at Duke University Medical Center.

“I am greatly honored by this appointment. WVU is one of the nation’s finest medical schools, and I look forward to serving the students, faculty and staff as their dean,” Ross said. “I have every confidence that we can work together to make the school even greater and to enhance the way our Health Sciences Center meets our mission of education, research, patient care and outreach in the land-grant tradition.”

Ross has been dean at the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University since 2004. In 2005 he was also named vice president for medical affairs there. He has also practiced and served as a faculty physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; and at Gundersen Lutheran Health System, the western clinical campus of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

While at Penn, Ross received the Teaching Excellence Award. Upon his departure from Wisconsin, the Health System named its new distance learning facility the “Ross Distance Education Center” in his honor. In 2007 the Chicago Medical School Alumni Association awarded him its Outstanding Service Award.

Dr. Colenda thanked James Brick, M.D., for his service as interim dean. Brick assumed the post in April 2008. “We are grateful for Dr. Brick’s dedication and service to WVU. He will leave Dr. Ross with a very strong and successful school.”

Colenda also expressed his appreciation to the search committee, led by WVU School of Pharmacy Dean Patricia Chase, Ph.D., and to faculty, staff and students who attended the candidate forums and provided evaluations of the candidates. “The participation of people from across the Health Sciences Center and the university in the selection of our next dean has made this a truly inclusive process,” he said.

Ross becomes only the ninth person to hold the title of dean of the WVU School of Medicine since 1912. He will be the first among the school’s deans to have served in that post at another medical school. He is also the first new medical dean since 1983 not drawn from among the university’s faculty.

For Dr. Ross’ biography, go to http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/dean.

-WVU-

06/04/10

CONTACT: Amy Johns, HSC News Service
304-293-7087
johnsa@wvuh.com