Medical dean search committee appointed

John M. Coffin, American Cancer Society Research Professor of Molecular Biology, has been tapped by Provost Jamshed Bharucha to chair the search committee for the 18th dean of the School of Medicine.

The new dean will succeed Dr. John T. Harrington, who has served in the post since 1994 and announced earlier this year that he will step down on December 31.

John M. Coffin is chairing the medical dean search committee. © Richard Howard

Bharucha announced the formation of the selection committee in October. The other members are:

Dr. Mary Y. Lee, J75, M83, associate professor of medicine, dean for educational affairs at the medical school and an associate provost of the university.

Dr. David M. Barrett, president and CEO of the Lahey Clinic and professor of urology.

Dr. Diana W. Bianchi, Natalie V. Zucker Professor and professor of pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology at Tufts and a trustee of Tufts-New England Medical Center.

Dr. Michael F. Collins, M81, president and CEO of the Caritas Christi Health Care System and a clinical professor of medicine.

Dr. Paul Friedmann, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean for Baystate Medical Center, a Tufts-affiliated hospital in Springfield, Mass.

Ralph Isberg, professor of molecular biology and microbiology and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Naomi Rosenberg, professor of pathology and director of the Graduate Program in Genetics.

"The selection of a new dean for the School of Medicine is one of the most important decisions we face in the coming year," Bharucha said in announcing the search committee. "The new dean must be a leader capable of taking us to the next level in research and medical education, while strengthening relationships with all our affiliated hospitals."

Bharucha said the committee's first assignments will be to advise him on a formal description of the position and the qualities sought in a new dean and to advertise the position and solicit nominations.