Stern Named VP for Health Affairs at UC

CINCINNATI—David Stern, MD, has been named vice president for health affairs at the University of Cincinnati (UC), effective Jan. 1, 2008. He retains his position as dean of the College of Medicine.

Stern, who became dean Aug. 1, 2005, will assume additional responsibilities at the UC Academic Health Center currently held by Jane Henney, MD, senior vice president for health affairs and provost. Henney recently announced her decision not to seek an extension of her contract with the university when it expires in June 2008. She will assume a faculty position in the College of Medicine’s department of internal medicine on Jan. 1, 2008.

“I am enthusiastic to take up these new duties on behalf of the Academic Health Center,” Stern said. “This is a time of great opportunity in our research, educational and clinical missions. We look forward to strengthening our strategic partnerships to better fulfill our unique niche as the region’s hub of medical innovation, education and health care.”

Stern’s new responsibilities were announced by UC President Nancy Zimpher Dec. 18 in a memo to faculty and staff.

In another organizational change at the Academic Health Center, the deans of the colleges of nursing, pharmacy and allied health sciences, who previously reported to Henney, will now report to Anthony Perzigian, who has been named senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at UC. Additionally, Sandra Degen, PhD, vice president for research, who also reported to Henney, will now report to President Zimpher.

“For academic purposes, the deans of Allied Health Sciences, Nursing and Pharmacy will report to Provost Perzigian. For clinical purposes, these same deans will report through Vice President Stern,” Zimpher said in her announcement. “College of Nursing Dean Andrea Lindell will serve in an academic support role within the provost’s office and in a clinical support role within the Office of the Vice President for Health Affairs, further integrating east and west campuses.

“I am confident that these changes will strengthen our cross-disciplinary efforts across the entire campus, provide more efficiencies and integration of services in the future, and will strengthen the Academic Health Center and its relationship with UC Physicians, University Hospital and the Health Alliance,” Zimpher said. “I believe we will be a stronger university and our broader community’s educational and health care needs will be better served by a more integrated university administration.”