Long-time associate dean to return to return to current position afterwards by Henry Pflager | Oct 09 2014 | 10/09/14 12:06am

University officials announced Dr. Randolph J. Canterbury accepted his appointment to Interim Medical School Dean earlier this week. His term will begin Dec. 1, 2014.

Canterbury, the senior associate dean for education at the Medical School, will replace Medical School Dean Nancy Dunlap, who is stepping down after 18-months in the position.

Dunlap said in an email that she came to the Medical School during a period of turnover and was allotted an 18-month period to ensure everything went smoothly.

Randy is a thoughtful individual who understands the issues that are being addressed, Dunlap said. I have no doubt that the transition to Randy's leadership will be smooth. The other senior associate deans are very talented and will help Randy if issues arise. We have completed a strategic planning process and are implementing our initiatives. Teams are in place to help carry out our plans.

Dr. Richard Shannon, the executive vice president for Health Affairs, said in an email that Canterbury has been close advisor to the dean for more than a decade, and is taking on the role out of a deep sense of duty to the University.

Shannon said the interim position was not a lame duck position and would require skilled leadership.

The unfinished work of the SOM [Medical School] strategic plan and important administrative restructuring will begin under Randys leadership, Shannon said.

Canterbury said he has been meeting with Dunlap for the past 18 months as part of the Medical Schools management team. While the strategic plan represents an ongoing project which started nine months ago under Dunlaps watch, implementation will continue under Canterbury.

We have an institutional plan that was developed by members of the Medical School community with a strategy to move forward, Canterbury said. I think my job will be I wont say simple, but itll [be] pretty clear, and that is to implement that plan over the next 7-8 months.

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Shannon appoints Canterbury interim Medical School dean