A Nashville, Tenn., physician, Rubens Pamies, M.D., has been named vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNMC. 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. He said he will be coming to Omaha periodically over the next 2 1/2 months, as he prepares to begin the new position. He also will serve as the dean for graduate studies at UNMC.
“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 I’m 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. It’s an exciting time to be at UNMC, and I know Dr. Pamies is looking forward to this opportunity.”
“I’m 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. I’m confident that with the talent that we have, 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. There’s no reason we can’t 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. It’s 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. John’s 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 Cornell-North 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. Pamies 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. Maurer had special praise for David Crouse, Ph.D., who served as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs during the past year and was one of the three finalists for the position.
“Dave Crouse did an excellent job as interim vice chancellor,” Dr. Maurer said. “I’m very pleased that he has agreed to return to his original position as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. This is very important, as Dave has a corporate memory that will be critical to the overall success of our institution.”
In selecting Dr. Pamies as vice chancellor, Dr. Maurer expressed his appreciation to the search committee for bringing forward some outstanding candidates.
Rod Markin, M.D., Ph.D., associate dean for clinical affairs for the UNMC College of Medicine and president of University Medical Associates, served as chairman of the committee. Other members of the committee and the units they represent were: Bob Bartee, chancellor’s office, Tony Hollingsworth, Ph.D., Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases; Dave Brown, Ph.D., College of Dentistry; Irene Klintberg, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Allison Cushman, graduate studies; Del Lee, Business and Finance Services; John Gollan, M.D., internal medicine department; Pat Hageman, Ph.D., School of Allied Health Professions; Sheila Ryan, Ph.D., College of Nursing; Terry Hexum, Ph.D., Faculty Senate; and Gary Yee, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy.
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.