A Nashville, Tenn. physician, Rubens Pamies, M.D., has been named vice
chancellor of academic affairs and dean for graduate studies for the University
of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Pamies is professor and chairman of the
department of internal medicine at Meharry Medical College and professor
of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The announcement was made today by UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer,
M.D. The appointment is subject to approval of the University of Nebraska
Board of Regents. If approved, Dr. Pamies would begin his new post on Sept.
1.
We are thrilled to have Dr. Pamies join the UNMC team, Dr. Maurer
said. He stood out during the interviewing process as someone who has
the vision and expertise to move our academic enterprise to the next level.
Our goal is to become a world-class academic health sciences center, and
Im confident that Dr. Pamies can help us accomplish this.
He will bring new insights to the position, and this will be especially
important as we seek to add more diversity to our student body. Its an
exciting time to be at UNMC, and I know Dr. Pamies is looking forward to
this opportunity.
Im honored to work alongside a world-class group of faculty under
the leadership of Dr. Maurer, Dr. Pamies said. There already has been
a tremendous amount of growth at UNMC. It is an excellent institution.
Im confident that with the talent that we have that we can continue to
move the university forward.
UNMC has been a leader in dealing with the emerging threat of bioterrorism
and incorporating this into its curriculum. Likewise, UNMC has been outstanding
in providing distance education opportunities for rural communities in
Nebraska. I will strive to continue and improve upon these programs, while
looking for opportunities to develop innovative educational programs in
other areas. Theres no reason we cant improve upon what has already been
done. We have great resources and a great faculty. We just need to
integrate these resources and faculty.
It all starts with the students. We need to make sure we partner with
community schools to get the best possible students. Its critical that
we have a diverse student body, so we can take care of the diverse population
in the United States. I hope to expand the existing partnership UNMC has
with Dillard University and hopefully establish partnerships with other
institutions including the historically black colleges such as Spelman
College and Morehouse College in Atlanta.
A native of New York City, Dr. Pamies, 44, has been involved in academic
medicine for 14 years. From 1989 to 1992, he served at the University of
South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, where he held the position
of director and founder of the minority affairs division.
He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1992 to join the medical staff of Mount
Sinai Medical Center as chief of the division of general internal medicine
and as assistant professor at Case Western University School of Medicine.
At Case Western, he was named associate dean for academic programs in 1994,
associate professor in 1995 and associate dean for student affairs in 1996.
In 2000, Dr. Pamies was named professor and chairman of the department
of internal medicine at Meharry Medical College and chief of service for
the department of internal medicine at Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital.
In 2001, he was appointed professor of medicine for Vanderbilt University
Medical Center.
Dr. Pamies earned his undergraduate degree from St. Johns University
in New York, N.Y. in 1981 and his medical degree from the State University
of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine, in 1986. He did his internal
medicine residency at CornellNorth Shore University Hospital in New York
City. In 1992-1993, Dr. Pamies did a fellowship with the American Association
of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Health Services Research Institute. The fellowship
provided mentoring to 25 minority junior faculty to help them prepare for
careers in academic medicine and allow them to do outcomes research.
Active in a number of professional organizations, Dr. Pamies currently
serves on the board of the National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee
and the physician advisory board of Alive Hospital, Inc. of Nashville.
From 1996 to 2000, he was vice chairman of the board of trustees of the
Northern Ohio Cancer Research Center in Cleveland.
Throughout his career, Dr. Pamies has been involved in furthering educational
opportunities for students of color. From 1995 to 2000, he served as a
Heartwarmers Mentor for minority high school students in Cleveland through
a Bristol-Myers Squibb program. In 1999, he was nominated for the position
of national chairperson for the group on Student Affairs, Minority Affairs
Section of the AAMC. In 1990, Dr. Pamies served as chairperson of an AAMC
Committee looking at issues concerning minorities in medical education.
In 2000, a scholarship was established in his name at Case Western Reserve
University School of Medicine. The scholarship was called the Dr. David
Satcher-Dr. Rubens J. Pamies Scholarship for Academic Excellence for Minority
Students. A 1970 graduate of Case Western, Dr. Satcher served as president
of Meharry Medical College from 1982 to 1993 and as U.S. surgeon general
from 1998-2002. He is presently director of the new National Center for
Primary Care at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. Drs. Pameis
and Satcher are presently co-editing a book on health disparities.
Dr. Pamies was featured on the cover story of the July 2000 edition
of Black Issues in Higher Education for his work in furthering minority
health-care education. Under Dr. Pamies leadership, Case Western Reserve
University School of Medicine ranked No. 1 among medical schools in graduating
minority students.
As a student and educator, Dr. Pamies has been active in the Student
National Medical Association (SNMA), the oldest and largest medical student
organization dedicated to people of color and underserved communities.
He received an award from SNMA in 1995 for establishing the first office
of minority affairs at the University of South Florida, and in 1996, he
received the SNMA faculty/staff recognition award for his work at Case
Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Dr. Pamies succeeds William Berndt, Ph.D., who retired as vice chancellor
for academic affairs and dean for graduate studies and research effective
May 31, 2002. Dr. Berndt served as vice chancellor since 1985 with the
17-year stint interrupted only when he served as interim chancellor in
1991-1992 and chancellor in 1996-1998.