Open forums, interviews for next School of Medicine & Health Sciences leader scheduled Aug. 27 through Sept. 6

Three finalists for the position of UND vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences have been invited to campus the weeks of Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 for interviews and open forums.
UND’s next vice president/dean will build upon the School of Medicine & Health Sciences’ strengths and springboard off its place as a recognized leading center for instruction in rural medicine, Indigenous health, and interprofessional, collaborative care to enhance its national reputation and contribute in meaningful and positive ways to the future of health care in the state of North Dakota.
The schedule for campus participation is below, as well as biographical information provided by the finalists. More details, including Zoom links for open forum participation, can be found on the search website.
Dr. Stephen Scott – Aug. 27-28
- Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Staff Session, 10 a.m., SMHS, Room E221
- Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Student Luncheon, 12 p.m., SMHS, Room E223
- Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Open Forum, 2 p.m., SMHS, Room E221
- Wednesday, Aug. 28 – Faculty Session, 11 a.m., SMHS Room W206
Dr. Scott is dedicated to advancing learner success across the spectrum of health professions education. He has a proven track record of spearheading innovative educational programs both domestically and internationally, and his leadership focuses on equipping the next generation to solve future healthcare challenges. By cultivating curiosity, compassion, skill, and creativity, he prepares leaders who will transform health and healthcare.
Before joining the Fertitta Family College of Medicine, Dr. Scott played a key role in the development of the Burnett School of Medicine at Texas Christian University, where he served as chair of the Department of Medical Education and senior associate dean for educational affairs and accreditation. Prior to his work at TCU, Dr. Scott contributed to the growth of Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, serving as assistant dean for medical education and associate dean for student affairs.
Dr. Scott has also had an instrumental role in leading the collaborative development of online virtual patient cases now used in most medical schools in the U.S. and Canada as well as a growing number of other health professions schools. He is the recipient of multiple grants and awards for educational leadership and innovation.
Dr. Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and a Bachelor of Music from Rice University. He earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at the University of Washington, where he served as co-chief resident. He has completed additional fellowships in medical education and earned a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dr. Marjorie Jenkins – Sept. 3-4
- Tuesday, Sept. 3 – Staff Session, 10 a.m., SMHS, Room E221
- Tuesday, Sept. 3 – Student Luncheon, 12 p.m., SMHS, Room E221
- Tuesday, Sept. 3 – Open Forum, 2 p.m., SMHS, Room E221
- Wednesday, Sept. 4 – Faculty Session, 11 a.m., SMHS Room W202
As a visionary leader, Dr. Jenkins has cultivated research and educational programs across academic institutions and national programs. She successfully steered TTUHSC’s Laura W. Bush Institute to global recognition and statewide growth across five campuses and schools of health professions. During her USCSOMG deanship, SOMG received its first 8-yr LCME accreditation and the first of several NIH grants. She also launched the school’s first 3-year Primary Care Accelerated Track (PCAT) program to provide family medicine providers to rural South Carolina and worked with leadership and faculty on a successful curriculum renovation.
During her career, Dr. Jenkins has worked successfully with academic philanthropy teams resulting in $30M of funding to support of research endowments, student scholarships, and medical education. She has delivered 150+ presentations to audiences world-wide, co-authored numerous scientific works, and served as an expert advisor to various HRSA, NIH, and NASA efforts. She is a clinician dedicated to high quality evidence-based care to all.
Dr. Elizabeth Petty – Sept. 5-6
- Thursday, Sept. 5 – Staff Session, 10 a.m., SMHS, Room E221
- Thursday, Sept. 5 – Student Luncheon, 12 p.m., SMHS, Room E223
- Thursday, Sept. 5 – Open Forum, 2 p.m., SMHS, Room W203
- Friday, Sept. 6 – Faculty Session, 11 a.m., SMHS Room E221
As an ACMGG board certified geneticist, she cares for people with genetic conditions. Prior to joining the faculty at UW-SMPH, Dr. Petty was a professor of internal medicine and human genetics at the University of Michigan Medical School where she served in multiple leadership roles and supported learning in classrooms, clinics, communities, and research settings. During the last three decades she has championed the development and implementation of innovative curricula, enhanced admissions and student support programs, helped build equity and inclusion initiatives, and conducted innovative basic science, social science, and education research.
She has been ELAM and AAMC Council of Deans fellows, as well as a founding member of the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Academic Medicine, which focuses on human flourishing through promoting caring, character, and practical wisdom. In addition to publishing numerous manuscripts and book chapters, she was a senior editor of The Equal Curriculum: The Student and Educator Guide to LGBTQ Health. She also leads the inaugural AMA Foundation UW-SMPH LGBTQ+ Health Fellowship.
Dr. Petty enjoys creating innovative curricular and learner support programs, building diversity and inclusion programs that promote heath equity, strengthening academic-community partnerships to optimize health, driving strategic improvement processes to improve academic outcomes, and enhancing interprofessional institutional initiatives to promote respect, professionalism, and well-being. Outside of work she enjoys spending time in nature, writing songs, and playing various musical instruments.
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