Robert DAlessandri, M.D., vice president for health sciences at West Virginia University, announced today that he had accepted with regret the resignation of Michael Friedland, M.D., from his post as dean of the Eastern Division of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Friedland will assume the position of senior associate dean for biomedical programs and professor of biomedical sciences at Florida Atlantic University, effective at the start of the fall semester.
“We will miss, and our students will miss, the leadership that has been provided by Dr. Friedland during his tenure as dean of the Eastern Division,”said Dr. DAlessandri.”He has guided us through one of the most challenging times any school facesthe establishment of a new campus and educational program.”
The Eastern Division provides community-based education in the health sciences emphasizing family medicine, primary care, and rural health. It is a cooperative effort with physicians, hospitals and other health care providers in the nine-county, Eastern Panhandle of West VirginiaJefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire, Mineral, Hardy, Grant, Pendleton, and Tucker counties.
A new educational building, made possible with funds secured by Senator Robert C. Byrd and by the West Virginia Legislature, will soon be constructed adjacent to City Hospital in Martinsburg.
“Dr. Friedland played a central role in designing and promoting that building,”DAlessandri said.”Thanks to the support of Senator Byrd, the students and faculty who work and study there for generations to come will enjoy the results of Dr. Friedlands planning.”
A search committee for a new Eastern Division dean has been established, and will be led by John Prescott, M.D., dean of the WVU School of Medicine.