Dr. Dale Vandre has been named the founding chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences for Western Michigan University School of Medicine.
He comes from The Ohio State University College of Medicine where he is vice chair of the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology and is responsible for overseeing the integration of basic sciences throughout the four years of education for medical students.
Dr. Vandre also is assistant dean for foundational science and director of the integrated pathway program, the primary educational track for nearly 400 first- and second-year medical students who are taught by more than 250 faculty members.
He co-chaired the curriculum design team that developed the new curriculum for the medical school that began this fall.
Vandre received the College of Medicine Distinguished Educator Award in 2008 and the Excellence in Teaching Award for his department in 2012.
At the WMU School of Medicine, Vandre initially will be responsible for recruiting basic science faculty with significant medical student teaching experience to the medical school. Together, Vandre and these faculty members will continue to refine the medical student curriculum and develop research programs at WMU's School of Medicine.
Western Michigan University's School of Medicine is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching hospitals, Borgess Medical Center and Bronson Methodist Hospital. Planning for the school has proceeded for four years and is expected to enroll its first class in fall 2014. The program was initiated with a gift of $100 million from anonymous donors.
Vandre joins the WMU School of Medicine in November.
Dr. Hal Jenson, dean of WMU School of Medicine, says Dr. Vandre's "commitment to educational innovation and team-based learning focused on interdisciplinary experiences is a perfect match for the curriculum that we have designed."
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Laura Eller, Western Michigan University
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