KU News Release

KU School of Medicine names new dean for Wichita campus

H. David Wilson

WICHITA, Kan. — A pediatrician who serves as vice president for health affairs at University of North Dakota has been named dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Atkinson announced today.

H. David Wilson recently accepted the position and intends to start on July 1.

“Dr. Wilson is a visionary, and the search committee is confident that he has the experience and talent to move the school forward,” said Donna Sweet, professor of internal medicine and chair of the search committee. “What he has accomplished in 14 years at North Dakota — including building a research enterprise — is impressive, and through his national presence in academic medical organizations, he has earned the utmost respect of his peers.”

Wilson has served as dean and professor of pediatrics at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences since 1995 and was appointed vice president for health affairs for the university in 2001.

“I look forward to bringing my experience at another community-based medical school to Wichita,” said Wilson. “The school has enormous potential, and I am honored to serve as its dean.”

Wilson is a pediatrician with fellowship training in infectious diseases. He is a graduate of Wabash College and St. Louis University School of Medicine. He was a resident in pediatrics at the University of Kentucky and a National Institutes of Health fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School-Dallas.

Wilson was also a faculty member at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine for 22 years, completing his tenure as professor and associate dean for academic affairs.

From 1988 to 1989, Wilson was selected as an American Council on Education fellow and has received several teaching awards, including the University of Kentucky Alumni Association’s Great Teacher Award and, in 2008, was recognized by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Alumni with their Commonwealth Award. He is a past chair of the American Medical Association’s Governing Council of the Section on Medical Schools.

Wilson served from 2002 to 2007 as the chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges Section on Community-Based Deans. In 2007, Wilson was elected Chair of the AAMC Council of Deans. He is the author of more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and one book.

“I want to thank the search committee for their time and energy during this important selection process. They have identified a superb leader in Dr. Wilson and I look forward to working with him to achieve many significant accomplishments in the future,” said Atkinson. “I am confident Dr. Wilson will be able to capitalize on our many strengths in Wichita to ultimately improve the health of Kansans.”

Members of the search committee for a new Wichita dean included:

Donna Sweet, search committee chair, professor of internal medicine, Wichita
Susie Ahlstrand, vice president for community advancement, Wichita Chamber of Commerce and staff to Wichita Visioneering Project
Alex Ammar, chair of surgery, Wichita
Ken Audus, dean, KU School of Pharmacy, Lawrence
Doug Bradham, chair of preventive medicine and public wealth, Wichita
Ron Brown, family medicine
Heidi Chumley, senior associate dean for medical education, Kansas City
Kevin Conlin, president and CEO, Via Christi Health System, Wichita
Shaker Dakhil, Sedgwick County Medical Society representative
Ed Ellerbeck, chair of preventive medicine and public health, Kansas City
Reginald Fears, third-year medical student, KU School of Medicine-Wichita
Charles Fox, associate dean of academic affairs and research, College of Health Professions, Wichita State University and member Board of Trustees of Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education
Doug Girod, senior associate dean for clinical affairs and chair of otolaryngology, Kansas City
Raj Goyle, Kansas State Representative, Wichita
Carol Johnson, KAFP Representative
Garold Minns, associate dean for academic and faculty affairs, Wichita
Deanell Reece Tacha, chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for Tenth Circuit, Denver; KU alumna and former KU vice chancellor for academic affairs
Jon Rosell, executive director, Medical Society of Sedgwick County
Richard Shaw, School of Medicine-Wichita Dean’s Club representative
Hugh Tappan, president and CEO, Wesley Medical Center, Wichita
Kurt Watson, chair of KU Endowment Board of Trustees and KU alumnus, Wichita

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.