William M. Crist, University of Missouri School of Medicine Hugh E. and Sarah D.
Stephenson Dean, to serve as vice president for health affairs at the University
of Arizona.
Dear colleagues,
After eight years as dean of the University of Missouri School of Medicine, I have
decided to accept the position of vice president for health affairs at the University
of Arizona. I will begin my new duties Oct. 31, 2008.
My decision to leave Missouri and its flagship University was difficult to say the
least. I grew up in Missouri, and I completed medical school at MU in 1969. The
education I received from MU allowed me to have a fulfilling career focused on improving
care for children with cancer. I also cherish the many professional and personal
relationships I formed since returning to MU as dean in September 2000.
Exciting opportunities await MU’s medical center. The accomplishments of our medical
school faculty members, who have received strong support from alumni and the community,
have positioned us well for the future. During the past eight years, we focused
as a team on recruiting leaders and increasing resources. Our major successes include
increasing the size of our faculty more than 60 percent to an unprecedented level
of 650 members. These physician scientists and basic scientists include exceptional
new associate deans for education and research, 19 department chairs, and numerous
center directors and division chiefs who will continue to provide strong leadership.
In terms of resources, we increased the medical school’s core budget by approximately
$100 million, an increase of more than 70 percent. Our budget was bolstered by a
remarkable 88 percent increase in University Physicians revenue, by raising more
than $100 million as part of MU’s capital campaign, and by tripling our endowment
and research grants. We constructed and renovated buildings to create modern facilities
for our academic missions, including 90,000 square feet for research. The medical
school curriculum has become increasingly innovative by emphasizing patient-centered
care and incorporating new technologies.
While I am proud of what we accomplished during my time as dean, the position of
vice president at the University of Arizona offers new and exciting opportunities
that suit this stage in my career. I will lead and oversee the educational, research
and clinical delivery components of UA’s College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy,
College of Nursing, and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in both
Tucson and Phoenix. I also will oversee all agreements with UA’s University Medical
Center, University Physicians Healthcare and UPH Hospital.
As a child, I lived in Tucson for six years. Today, I look forward to working with
UA President Robert Shelton and UA Executive Vice President and Provost Meredith
Hay, who previously served as director of the National Center for Gender Physiology
at the University of Missouri and then as vice president for research at the University
of Iowa. Their strategic plan for health sciences includes elevating UA to one of
the nation’s top 10 universities in terms of research. UA already ranks 13th among
public research universities, and it is the nation’s No. 21 institution among all
public and private universities and colleges.
The University of Missouri also has embarked on a strategic planning process that
will help integrate the complicated components of our academic health center. Under
the leadership of UM President Gary Forsee, MU Chancellor Brady Deaton and others,
MU is poised to significantly elevate its health sciences programs. I encourage
everyone to assist our leaders in this critical initiative.
As a loyal alumnus and donor, I will always be devoted to the University of Missouri
and its School of Medicine. I have been fortunate to work with many others who feel
the same. With our continued support, MU will continue to make remarkable contributions
to medicine and improve health in Missouri and beyond.
Sincerely,
William M. Crist, MD
Hugh E. and Sarah D. Stephenson Dean
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Message from the University of Missouri
