Lynell Klassen, M.D., to step down as internal medicine chairman

Lynell Klassen, M.D.

After eight years in the position, Lynell Klassen, M.D., has informed Brad Britigan, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine, that he intends to step down as chairman of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine and wants to begin the transition process for finding a new chairman.

When he accepted the position in 2005, Dr. Klassen indicated he would hold it for no more than 10 years.

“As I begin my ninth year as chair, it is time to initiate a smooth process of transitioning leadership of the department,” he said. “At the request of the dean, I will continue to discharge the duties of department chair until he appoints my replacement. I anticipate that we will continue to aggressively pursue our strategic goals during the search process.”

After consulting with leadership, faculty and key stakeholders, Dr. Britigan hopes to form a search committee in the near future. He anticipates that the search will take between 12 and 18 months. When a new chairman is found, Dr. Klassen, the Henry J. Lehnhoff Professor, will return to a faculty position in the rheumatology division, continuing his clinical, research and teaching activities.

“As chair of internal medicine and throughout his 30-plus years as a faculty member, Dr. Klassen has contributed immensely to the success of the department and UNMC.” Brad Britigan, M.D. Dean, College of Medicine

“As chair of internal medicine and throughout his 30-plus years as a faculty member, Dr. Klassen has contributed immensely to the success of the department and UNMC,” said Dr. Britigan. “I respect his decision to move on to another phase of his career and appreciate his willingness to continue as chair until a successor is identified.

“The recognition that the department has for excellence in education, research and clinical care, as well as the outstanding faculty that Dr. Klassen has assembled during his tenure as chair, provides an outstanding base upon which a new chair will be able to build.”

With more than 180 physicians and scientists, internal medicine is the largest department within the UNMC College of Medicine. The department is organized by disease specialty into 10 divisions.

Dr. Klassen said, “I have spent my entire professional life in what I believe to be the noble calling of academic internal medicine and have always fully embraced the ideals of the classic tripartite academic mission.

“It has been both an honor and a delight to serve on the leadership team of this growing, vibrant and financially sound academic department. I’m proud of the many accomplishments the department has had over the past eight years. I have had a blast.”