Dr. Bruce Koeppen, dean for academic affairs at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, has been appointed the founding dean of the Quinnipiac University School of Medicine, President John L. Lahey announced today.
"After an extensive national search, Dr. Koeppen emerged as the ideal individual to take on the enormous task of launching Quinnipiac's new School of Medicine," Lahey said. "He brings to this new leadership role his extensive experience and success as an administrator, teacher and scholar in medical education."
In his new role, Koeppen will spearhead the direction of Quinnipiac's School of Medicine, working closely with the university's academic leaders to shape the school's educational framework. He will be responsible for finalizing the school's clinical affiliation partnerships, developing curriculum, recruiting faculty and an administrative team, and securing accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for medical schools. He officially joins Quinnipiac Nov. 1.
"Leading the development of Quinnipiac University's new medical school, especially in a rich environment of other nationally recognized health professions programs, will be a phenomenally stimulating, challenging and rewarding opportunity," Koeppen said. "Success in creating a new medical school rests only in part with the founding dean. Importantly, there must also be a strong institutional commitment and support such as that found at Quinnipiac. The university is in a unique position to not only create a new medical school, but to create an institutional environment that will be viewed at a regional and national level as a primary care educational magnet for a broad spectrum of health professions."
As dean for academic affairs at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Koeppen was responsible for recent revisions and delivery of the four-year medical school curriculum, all of the integrated residency and fellowship programs in the greater Hartford area and the continuing education programs offered to the community by the faculty. In addition, Koeppen had the administrative responsibility of establishing and maintaining the clinical affiliation relationships with the medical school.
Prior to serving in that role, Koeppen was an active National Institutes of Health-funded researcher and teacher, with a distinguished career as a scholar and researcher, particularly in the area of renal physiology. He has been honored locally, regionally and nationally as a gifted teacher and accomplished author of medical texts, books and scores of journal articles.
Koeppen received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Illinois, his M.D. from the University of Chicago and his doctorate in physiology from the University of Illinois. He completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in physiology at the Yale University School of Medicine and was a professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine for the years prior to his appointment there as associate dean in 1990. He also held the prestigious Endowed Chair of Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Professor of Academic Medicine from 2002-2008.
"Dr. Koeppen's vision for the future of medical education will help to shape our vision and plans for a highly respected Quinnipiac University School of Medicine," Lahey said. "He will be an outstanding founding dean who clearly possesses all of the abilities to lead us in the implementation and execution of our new medical school."
Among his notable national experiences and professional activities, Koeppen has had a long-term involvement with the LCME, having served on numerous survey teams, many as team secretary, and more recently as team chair. He is in his fourth year serving as a member of the LCME representing the Association of American Medical Colleges, and serves as chair of its Standards Committee.
"Dr. Koeppen has intimate knowledge of the requirements and processes involved in starting a new medical school," said Mark Thompson, senior vice president for academic and student affairs.
Learn more about the University's plans for a medical school