JABSOM dean finalists announced, campus visits scheduled

Left to right: Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, Melissa Simon, T. Samuel Shomaker

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has identified three finalists for the position of dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). The finalists are scheduled for in-person visits over a two-day period that include meetings with faculty, staff, students, senior administrators and constituents, and a public presentation.

Campus and community members, as well as the general public, are encouraged to attend the public presentations. Information on time, room location and zoom link will be added to this story no later than the start of the first visit.

The campus visits for the three candidates have been scheduled as follows:

• Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, MD, visiting January 29–30, 2024
  Interim Dean, Barry and Virginia Weinman Endowed Chair, and Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health,
  John A. Burns School of Medicine
  Public presentation: Tuesday, January 30, 1:30–2:45 p.m., JABSOM Library Stacks (webinar link to be posted by January 22)
   
• Melissa Simon, MD, visiting February 13-14, 2024
  George H. Gardner Professor of Clinical Gynecology and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Founder/Director of the Center for Health Equity Transformation and Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative; and Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, Northwestern University Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
  Public presentation: Wednesday, February 14,, 1:30–2:45 p.m., JABSOM Library Stacks (webinar link to be posted by January 22)
   
• T. Samuel Shomaker, MD, JD, visiting February 27-28, 2024
  Former Jean and Thomas McMullen Dean, College of Medicine and Vice President for Clinical Affairs, and Professor of Anesthesiology,
  Texas A&M Health Science Center 
  Public presentation: Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 1:30–2:45 p.m., JABSOM Library Stacks (webinar link to be posted by January 22) 

“The search advisory committee did a superb job in identifying finalists with both impressive, progressive leadership experience and disciplinary knowledge. I express my appreciation to them for their time, hard work and commitment to the search process. We look forward to meeting the candidates for the important role of dean of the state’s only medical school, critical to the training of high-quality physicians, scientists and health care professionals across the Pacific-Asia region,” said UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno. “As always, we encourage UH faculty, staff, students and the public to come out and meet the candidates, and we look forward to receiving their feedback.”

Following the visits and review of the feedback from the search advisory committee and others, Bruno will make a recommendation on this appointment to UH President David Lassner.

Visit the search website for more information about the search process, including a list of the members of the search advisory committee, candidate biographies and curriculum vitae, and updated schedules. Feedback on the candidates from UH and community members are valued; a feedback link will be posted on January 29 and close on March 6.

About the John A. Burns School of Medicine
Uniquely located in the center of the Pacific, the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), an LCME and ACGME accredited institution, embraces diversity and inclusion as part of our shared Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific values. JABSOM opened in 1965 as a two-year program and transitioned in 1973 to a four-year program. Today, it is one of the leading medical education institutions in the U.S., with exceptional doctors and researchers who focus on the training of high-quality physicians, biomedical scientists and allied health workers to provide excellence in health care. JABSOM conducts research and translates discoveries into practice, and establishes effective partnerships with our healthcare institutions and multidisciplinary collaborations with business and community organizations. The medical school has a tremendous impact on the healthcare of our state and beyond including the Asia-Pacific region. In 2023, there were 618 medical students, MD residents and fellows, and graduate students with 90% of students are from Hawai‘i.