Dean Wilson to step down in June After 13 years of distinguished service to the University of North Dakota, H. David Wilson, vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), has announced his intention to step down from his posts at the end of the academic year. Wilson, who is finishing a three-year stint as "Dean of Deans" of American medical schools, is the fifth longest tenured dean among the nation's 130 accredited medical schools. "I have had a great association here at UND, starting in 1995. I think that as a team we have accomplished much at the SMHS. The goals I set for the school when I arrived have largely been achieved: to have national recognition for our medical education curriculum, to have the very best rural health program in the nation, and to have nationally recognized research in targeted areas, and more recently, to grow the endowment for the SMHS. I'm proud of the successes we have achieved here. I'm not ready to retire, but I am ready to look at several national administrative posts. By announcing the resignations of the vice presidency and the deanship now, I can focus on pursuing some other options but also allow the University to begin the transition to new leadership," said Wilson. "The SMHS has made great strides under Dr. Wilson's years of leadership. The school is nationally recognized for its curriculum, a novel patient-centered small group model that is now being emulated and adopted at many medical schools around the country. Dr. Wilson implemented a plan to expand the medical school physical plant with the construction of a new research building, an animal research facility, and a Clinical Education Center. And he recruited a cadre of highly talented faculty members who came from the best institutions from in and around the country," said Robert O. Kelley, UND president. A national search process will be initiated to identify the next dean of the SMHS. In the interim, Kelley announced that Joshua Wynne, associate vice president for health affairs and vice dean of the SMHS, has agreed to assume temporary responsibilities to assist with the transition to the next dean's administration. Dr. Wynne will assume the position of interim senior executive vice president and associate provost for health affairs at UND, the position of interim executive dean of SMHS, and will serve on the president's cabinet.