A new dean for education

One of the Ivy League’s most highly regarded medical educators is stepping down, much to the chagrin of students and colleagues.

This is true not only of Yale’s Robert Gifford, M.D., but also his replacement. Herbert S. Chase Jr., M.D., will leave Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons at the end of June to become deputy dean for medical education at Yale.

A nephrologist who joined the Columbia faculty in 1980, Chase received Teacher of the Year honors from the P&S classes of 1997, 1999 and 2001 as well as the university’s Presidential Teaching Award in 1996. Like Yale, Columbia recognizes exceptional educators with Bohmfalk teaching prizes; Chase got one in 1995.

These accolades as well as Chase’s skill in curriculum development and computer-based teaching caught the attention of the Yale search committee, headed by physiology professor Michael Caplan, M.D., Ph.D., and David Coleman, M.D., professor of medicine. Dean David A. Kessler, M.D., announced Chase’s appointment Nov. 2 at a meeting of the Medical School Council.

Born in New York City, Chase, 51, spent his undergraduate years at Brown and studied medicine at Mt. Sinai before training in internal medicine and nephrology at Roosevelt and Mt. Sinai hospitals. He was a nephrology fellow at Mt. Sinai and Columbia.

His appointment completes a reorganization of the Office of Education that began in 1998 with the creation of the deputy dean position with Gifford at the helm and the selection of Nancy R. Angoff, M.P.H. ’81, M.D. ’90, HS ’93, as associate dean for student affairs [YM, Fall 1998]. Earlier this year, registrar Cynthia Andrien, M.S., was promoted to assistant dean for student affairs and Thomas Lentz, M.D. ’64, rose from assistant to associate dean of admissions.

In addition, Richard A. Silverman was named to succeed M. Lynne Wootton as director of admissions following her retirement in June. A 1970 graduate of Yale College, Silverman held previous positions at Yale at the School of Management (SOM), where he served as executive director of admissions for the MBA program, and at Yale College, where he was associate director of undergraduate admissions. While at SOM, Silverman also was active nationally with the Graduate Management Admissions Council, serving as chair of the annual conference in 1997. Earlier career highlights included graduate work and a teaching fellowship in the Philosophy Department at Yale and service with U.S. Army Intelligence in Germany.