Dean Richardson has appointed Alfons L. Krol, MD, FRCPC, to the position of interim chair of the Department of Dermatology. This appointment is effective July 1, 2010. In making this appointment, Dean Richardson sought the input of dermatology faculty members; Dr. Krol emerged quickly as a consensus choice. "I am confident that Dr. Krol will be an effective and inspirational leader for the Department of Dermatology," said Dean Richardson. "I appreciate his willingness to step into this interim leadership role."

In March, Neil Swanson, MD, announced his intent to step down as chair after serving in this position for 15 years. Dr. Swanson decided to return to a more active role providing clinical care and education, and to refocus his considerable experience and expertise on his new role as Director of Clinical Operations in the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

Dr. Krol joined the OHSU School of Medicine faculty in September 2002 as a professor. Dr. Krol is also the director of Pediatric Dermatology at OHSU and Doernbecher Children's Hospital. He received his medical degree from the University of Alberta and completed his residency and fellowships at McGill University and the Montreal Children's Hospital. Previously, Dr. Krol was director of Pediatric Dermatology at the University of Alberta and the Stollery Children's Hospital, and also served as director of the Division of Dermatology at the University of Alberta.   

Paul Flint, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, will lead the search for a new chair. The committee membership is: 

• Rosalie C. Sears, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics
• Jeffrey L. Koh, MD, Professor, Departments of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, and
• PediatricsScott Turner, MA, Associate Hospital Administrator, Pediatric Administration
• Charles D. Lopez, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine, and Cell & Developmental Biology
• Tomasz M. Beer, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Deputy Director, Knight Cancer Institute
• Phoebe Rich, MD, Oregon Dermatology and Research Center, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Dermatology
  

The department is engaged in a self-assessment process and the search committee will conduct interviews with department faculty, residents and staff to gain their perspective on the ideal attributes of the new leader. Outreach for the department chair position is underway. Advertisements for the chair position are running in relevant professional journals and letters are being sent to medical schools across the country. Additional person-to-person contacts will also be made.

"This is a very attractive leadership opportunity in a department comprised of exceptional faculty members, a history of strong clinical performance, nationally known educational programs and a robust research portfolio," said Dean Richardson. "The department is very important to OHSU, Oregon and to advancing the discipline of dermatology. I expect that this high priority search will attract a strong group of candidates."