Dr. Abayomi Akanji appointed to the founding faculty of the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine

Dr. Abayomi Akanji has been appointed to the founding faculty of the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.

As a professor of medical sciences, Akanji will be responsible for teaching clinical chemistry and endocrinology in the new medical school, which will train primary care physicians when it opens this fall on Quinnipiac’s North Haven Campus.

“This is an excellent opportunity to be on the founding faculty of a brand new medical school that will produce graduates who are interested in primary care medicine,” said Akanji, who comes to Quinnipiac from Brown University, where he was a visiting professor of metabolic medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School. Before that, he was a professor of clinical pathology at Kuwait University.

Dr. Bruce Koeppen, founding dean of the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, said, “I am excited that Dr. Akanji has joined our faculty. His research on and expertise in high-impact diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and hypertension will be invaluable as we teach our students about these important entities.”

Akanji earned his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Oxford. He also holds a medical degree and master’s degree in chemical pathology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

He is a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of London, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the Nigerian Academy of Sciences. He also has been elected as a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. His research interests include diabetes, lipids and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

In addition, Akanji is a member of several professional societies, including the International Diabetes Federation, the International Federation of Clinical Chemists, the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, the Association of Clinical Biochemistry of the UK and the American Heart Association’s Council on Epidemiology and Prevention. He also is a member of the editorial board of “Metabolic Syndrome & Related Disorders.”

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education granted preliminary accreditation to the medical school in October 2012, just before the state Board of Education gave its approval.

The medical school has named St. Vincent’s Medical Center of Bridgeport, Conn., as its primary clinical affiliate. The medical school also has clinical affiliations with MidState Medical Center of Meriden, Conn. and Middlesex Hospital of Middletown, Conn.

President John L. Lahey announces Cabinet reorganization

Members of our student organizations interviewed Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Mark Thompson on Nov. 26 about his changing responsibilities. Here, Sunny Nariyani ’13, general manager of Q30-Television, speaks with Thompson.

By President John L. Lahey

I am pleased to announce that effective July 1, 2013, Dr. Mark Thompson will be promoted to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President/Provost.

In this position he will serve as the university’s chief operating officer with broad authority and responsibility for internal operations, including academic affairs, student affairs, athletics, public safety, facilities and information technology.

I am announcing this change now to allow Mark sufficient time to search for his successor for the position of Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, with the hope of filling that position also effective July 1, 2013.

I congratulate Mark on this promotion which was approved and authorized by the Board of Trustees’ Personnel Committee in June.

It reflects both the board’s and my appreciation for his many previous accomplishments as Dean of the School of Business and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, and our confidence in his leadership abilities and what we expect will be even greater contributions to Quinnipiac University in the years ahead.

Rich Ferguson, our current Senior Vice President for Administration, indicated to me over two years ago that he plans to retire at the conclusion of this academic year. Rich has been a critical member of the senior management team and Cabinet for the past 14 years.

He served as Vice President/Chief Information and Technology Officer from 1998 to 2009 and developed our information technology area into an enormous Quinnipiac strength both for academics and administration.

In his role as Senior Vice President for Administration he led equally transformative changes for human resources, public safety and facilities. We will sorely miss Rich’s outstanding leadership, collegiality, and friendship, as well as his analytical, thoughtful and collaborative leadership and management style that has greatly advanced Quinnipiac University both strategically and operationally.

In conjunction with Rich’s retirement, we will be eliminating the position of Senior Vice President for Administration.

Ron Mason, Vice President for Human Resources, will report directly to me effective July 1, 2013, and he will continue to serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet. Rich’s other direct reports and their areas of responsibility will report to the Executive Vice President/Provost effect July 1, 2013.

The Chronicle of Higher Education introduces Grace Brady, Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum, Músaem an Ghorta Mhóir

The Chronicle of Higher Education published an article on Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum, Músaem an Ghorta Mhóir and its executive director, Grace Brady.

In the story, Brady offers readers insight into the museum, its opening and the museum’s dual mission.

Please click here to read the full story.

Douglas McHugh named to the founding faculty of the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine

Douglas McHugh, of Berlin, has been named to the founding faculty of the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.

As an assistant professor of medicine, McHugh will teach courses in pharmacology, neurosciences and statistics. He also is representing the School of Medicine on the Faculty Senate’s Library Committee. Before coming to Quinnipiac, McHugh was an assistant scientist and visiting assistant professor of neurosciences in the Psychology Department at Indiana University.

“I am thrilled to partner with the other founding faculty to deliver instructional experiences that will inform, equip and inspire our graduates to both set and embody a new tone of patient-centered care in America,” McHugh said.

A native of Paisley, Scotland, he earned a doctorate and a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology at the University of Aberdeen. McHugh’s research interests include the rapidly expanding field of endogenous cannabinoid and related lipid pharmacology.

“I am delighted to have Doug as a member of the School of Medicine’s faculty,” said Dr. Bruce Koeppen, founding dean of the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine. “His teaching expertise ranges from psychology and neuroscience to pharmacology and statistics, and as such he will contribute at multiple levels to our educational program.”

McHugh is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, British Pharmacological Society, International Cannabinoid Research Society, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Sigma Xi.

The Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2013, pending preliminary accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

The medical school, which will train primary care physicians, is aiming to become a national model of interprofessional health professions education and improve the way health care is delivered. Medical students at Quinnipiac will be part of a learning environment where they will interact with students from Quinnipiac’sSchool of Health Sciences and School of Nursing to learn to become effective members of a primary health care team.

The medical school has named St. Vincent’s Medical Center of Bridgeport as its primary clinical partner. It also has affiliations with MidState Medical Center in Meriden and Middlesex Hospital in Middletown.

Three deans to serve as honorary chairs of JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes 2012 on Sept. 23

Three Quinnipiac University deans will serve as the honorary co-chairs of Walk to Cure Diabetes 2012, which raises money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The walk will get underway on the university’s North Haven Campus at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23. Pre-race activities begin at 9 a.m.

Bruce Koeppen, founding dean of the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Jean Lange, founding dean of the School of Nursing, and Ed O’Connor, dean of the School of Health Sciences, will lead the Quinnipiac delegation that will host the more than 3,000 local residents who are expected to attend the event. In addition, nursing students will perform blood pressure screenings. The School of Nursing also will offer children who attend an interactive educational opportunity using a VitalSim child mannequin to demonstrate heart and lung functions.

The money raised at the walk continues the work JDRF started in 1970, when the organization was founded by the parents of children with Type 1 diabetes. JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Walk to Cure represents the largest fundraiser of the year for the Greater New Haven Chapter of JDRF.

As many as 3 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, a disease most often diagnosed in childhood that strikes suddenly, lasts a lifetime and carries the constant threat of deadly complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputation. Sufferers of Type 1 diabetes must check their blood sugar by finger prick upwards of 10 times a day, account for every carbohydrate they eat, and remain constantly alert to potential changes in their blood sugar.

If you want to join, please click here to register and find out more information about how you can contribute to the Walk to Cure 2012. For more information,  call (203) 248-1880.

JDRF is the leading global organization focused on Type 1 diabetes research. Driven by passionate, grassroots volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults with this disease, JDRF is now the largest charitable supporter of T1D research. The goal of JDRF research is to improve the lives of every person affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating, and preventing T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners who share this goal.

Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has awarded more than $1.6 billion to diabetes research. Past JDRF efforts have helped to significantly advance the care of people with this disease, and have expanded the critical scientific understanding of T1D. JDRF will not rest until T1D is fully conquered. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.org.