From the Dean: Faculty promotions, Homecoming, and remembering the donors to our Deeded Body Program
We have a lot to celebrate this week. Perhaps at the top of the list is to extend congratulations to the six SMHS faculty members who were promoted and/or granted tenure this year. These faculty members have excelled in their respective fields through their teaching and/or research. Our honored faculty members joined 23 others from across campus in a ceremony this past Tuesday at the Gorecki Alumni Center. Please join me in congratulating the following SMHS faculty members:
- David Allard, Department of Sports Medicine, promoted to Assistant Professor
- Masfique Mehedi, Department of Biomedical Sciences, promoted to Associate Professor and granted tenure
- Jay Metzger, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, promoted to Associate Professor
- Monica Norby, Department of Biomedical Sciences, promoted to Teaching Assistant Professor
- Samantha Peterson, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, promoted to Associate Professor
- Gary Schindler, Department of Physical Therapy, promoted to Professor
The second noteworthy event occurred a week ago when the School welcomed several hundred students from across UND to an afternoon symposium focusing on interprofessional health. Organized solely by students in the Students for Interprofessional Health Interest Group and led by co-presidents Alexus Meduna and Morgan Mastrud, the event consisted of an address by Sara North, PT, DPT, PhD, MEd, FNAP, followed by a case competition, Simulation Center activities, and panel discussions on interprofessional health. Dr. North is co-director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Interprofessional Health and an associate professor in the university’s Division of Physical Therapy.
I think it is fair to say that this was the largest – and probably most successful – student-initiated and student-run event since I’ve been dean. I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about the event. And it was gratifying to see yet another example of how the intentional design of the spaces in the Grand Forks building worked out so well – we designed the large teaching halls on the second floor with moveable walls so that when opened up, we had a large space for the event. Although the turnout was huge, the well-designed space accommodated the crowd – without crowding!
Speaking of interprofessional education, don’t forget that next week is Homecoming Week at UND, which will recognize the 75th and 70th anniversaries, respectively, for our School’s Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Department of Occupational Therapy. In addition to our annual banquet on Friday, Sept. 27, the School will host a continuing education symposium focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare education and clinical practice from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. both online and in SMHS Room W206. This year’s event features presenters from several professional backgrounds representing not only UND but Mayo Clinic, Sanford Health, and Essentia Health – interprofessional indeed.
Although not an event unique to the SMHS or UND, this past Tuesday was Constitution Day, a nationally designated day when we can reflect on the importance of this bedrock document for the United States and the world since its signing in 1787. I must confess that I still get goosebumps when I hear or read the text of the document, starting with “We, the people of the United States, in order to establish a more perfect union…”
Finally, later today we celebrate the amazing generosity of people who have gifted their bodies to the SMHS, after they have passed away, in order to educate healthcare trainees through our Deeded Body Program. At 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, the Department of Biomedical Sciences will hold an interment service for those who have donated their bodies to the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences Deeded Body Program. The service will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery, located at the intersection of Gateway Drive and Columbia Road across from the SMHS building in Grand Forks. This service is open to the public and anyone who wishes to attend is welcome. If you have any questions, please contact a staff member from the Deed Body Program at 701.777.2101.
Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPH
Vice President for Health Affairs, UND
Dean, UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
