Progress continues as Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) taps medical and education experts for its leadership team. Four newly-appointed Associate Deans are now creating the foundation to position the medical school and its students for success.
“In building the academic leadership for Cooper Medical School, we’ve focused heavily on finding experts in curriculum planning and development, classroom teaching, and direct patient care,” explains Paul Katz, MD, Founding Dean of CMSRU. “We have appointed an esteemed group of experts that bring a wealth of experience in bridging medicine and education.”
Carolyn Bekes MD, MHA, FCCM, was named Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Graduate Medical Education. In this role she serves as the chief officer responsible for promoting the integration of clinical care and education at CMSRU. Dr. Bekes began her career at Cooper University Hospital in 1977 as Director of the Intensive Care Unit. In 1993, she left the ICU to develop Cooper’s Clinical Outcomes program. She served as Vice President for Medical Affairs at Cooper from 1993 to 1999. She held a variety of other leadership positions at Cooper, and was appointed Chief Medical Officer in 2009. Dr. Bekes will continue in that role.
Michael E. Goldberg, MD, was named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In this role, he is responsible for oversight of the complex and innovative curriculum of the new medical school. He will provide leadership in curriculum development, library services, the simulation program, and informatics. Dr. Goldberg also serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at CMSRU and Cooper University Hospital. He has chaired the Anesthesiology department for 16 years and in that time developed an academic department with a free standing residency in anesthesiology.
Harry Mazurek, Ph.D. was named Associate Dean for Research and serves as Director of the Cooper Research Institute. He joined Cooper in 2002, serving as research director for the Department of Medicine and the Division of Cardiovascular Disease and Critical Care Medicine. He directs the South Jersey Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Disease and Osteoporosis Program that has screened over 25,000 low-income individuals in Salem County. In his new role, Dr. Mazurek will be responsible for overseeing student clinical research projects and their applied process to medicine.
Valerie P. Weil, MD, FACP, was named Associate Dean for Finance, Administration, and Operations. In this capacity, she serves as chief operating and financial officer for the medical school. She provides leadership for strategic planning, human resources, information technology, marketing, facilities planning and management, financial reporting, and managing the annual operating budget of CMSRU. Prior to joining CMSRU, Dr. Weil was Vice President for Strategic Planning and Business Development for The Cooper Health System.
The $140 Million, 200,000-square-foot medical school building is currently under construction and is anticipated to be completed in June 2012. The medical school building is the single largest construction project in the City of Camden in 2011. CMSRU will welcome its first class of 50 students in the fall of 2012. At full capacity, the medical school will teach 400 medical students annually.