FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Communications and Marketing

Anne W. Manning – (901) 448-4072

Sheila Champlin – (901) 448-4957

 

 

James J. Neutens, PhD, Named Dean

for the Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville,

a University of Tennessee Health Science Center Campus

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Memphis, Tenn. (April 12, 2007) – Steve J. Schwab, MD, executive dean of the College of Medicine for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has announced the appointment of James J. Neutens, PhD, as dean for the Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, one of three College of Medicine campuses that are part of the UT Health Science Center.  Dr. Neutens has served as interim dean of the UTHSC Knoxville campus since 2005.

“The national search conducted for this position by the Knoxville campus of the College of Medicine and Parker Executive Search identified a group of outstanding medical leaders.  The search committee, lead by John Neff, MD, professor in the Department of Pathology, selected a group of exceptional candidates who made several visits to the Knoxville campus.  This search process revealed that Dr. Neutens possessed the strongest combination of skills and practical experience to meet the needs of the Knoxville campus community,” Executive Dean Schwab stated.  In his role as executive dean, Dr. Schwab supervises UTHSC medical college campus locations in Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

 “We are very pleased with the appointment of Dr. Neutens as the dean of the Graduate School of Medicine.  Having the opportunity to work with Dr. Neutens in the past, I believe his leadership and insight will prove invaluable to the Graduate School of Medicine as it continues to grow and expand," said Joseph Landsman, Jr., president and chief executive officer at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, a 581-bed, not-for-profit medical center.  "We are fortunate to have a person of his stature and expertise in this position."  

Since his arrival on the Health Science Center’s Knoxville campus 15 years ago, Dean Neutens has accepted positions of increasing responsibility and visibility.  In 1990, he joined the Graduate School of Medicine to administer the clerkship and residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology.  His efforts earned him the position as professor and director of education in obstetrics and gynecology.  In 1997, he was asked to serve as the associate dean for the Graduate School of Medicine, a role he fulfilled until being selected as interim dean.  While serving as interim dean, Dr. Neutens has forged a close alliance and working relationship with the UT Medical Center.  He has presided over several major campus successes including the recent awarding of a cardiology training program on the Knoxville campus.    

On the national level, Dr. Neutens serves on the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee for the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics.  This group sets curriculum and policy for the teaching of obstetrics and gynecology to medical students.  He is also a faculty member with the New Program Directors School sponsored by the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and heads that school board for educational matters. Dr. Neutens has authored several publications including three textbooks.

In addition to medical education, Dean Neutens is a Fellow of the American School Health Association and served as assistant editor to the Journal of School Health for many years.

A native of Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada, Dr. Neutens earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Ontario.  In addition, he holds a master’s and PhD in health science education from the University of Illinois in Champagne-Urbana. 

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the UT Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, clinical care and public service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus, which includes six colleges, is located in Memphis.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine campus locations in Knoxville and Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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