Eleven Yale School of Medicine faculty members interviewed by the Yale Daily News were split on whether the school should appoint an interim dean before Robert Alpern's, MD, term ends June 30.
Four things to know:
1. Dr. Alpern announced he would step down from his role as dean of the New Haven, Conn.-based medical school in December. His decision came amid the school's launch of its next capital campaign and the implementation of new campuswide science initiatives. Dr. Alpern told the Yale Daily News in December 2018 that the school is pursuing "many important initiatives over the next decade," and that it would not be "optimal" to switch deans"in the middle of those efforts."
2. Five faculty members interviewed by the publication said Dr. Alpern should continue to serve in his position until a new dean is appointed. However, six other faculty members said an interim dean could improve the school in areas that were questioned under Dr. Alpern, such as improving the workplace environment, the report states.
3. Dr. Alpern, who was appointed to the position in 2004, said he would not be involved in the selection process and declined to comment to the Yale Daily News.
4. Questions about Dr. Alpern's deanship came amid the controversy surrounding the medical school's decision in summer 2018 to grant an endowed professorship to Michael Simons, MD, who was found guilty of sexual harassment by an internal committee in 2013. The school rescinded the award later that summer.
To access the full report, click here.