The WMed Board of Directors has appointed Robert G. Sawyer, MD, as interim dean of the medical school effective February 19, 2024. The Board of Directors and Dean Paula M. Termuhlen, MD, have parted ways. The Board believes this senior leadership transition will best serve the medical school and position the institution for long-term future success.
Dr. Sawyer is a long-time medical education leader who is well positioned to serve as the interim dean. He has been a clinician and medical educator for more than 36 years and brings to the position 23 years of leadership experience. He joined WMed in 2017 as chair of the Department of Surgery and was appointed senior associate dean for research in October 2023. Most recently he led a comprehensive planning process to create the medical school’s research strategic plan.
“I’m honored by the opportunity to lead the medical school during this time,” said Dr. Sawyer. “I will proudly build on the legacy that precedes me with a commitment to our mission of transformative medical education, high-quality patient care, innovative research, and community partnerships.”
“During its first decade, the medical school faculty and staff have achieved much to be proud of including outstanding medical student outcomes and full reaccreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education,” said Edward Montgomery, PhD, chair of the Board of Directors and president of Western Michigan University. “With Dr. Sawyer at the helm, the Board of Directors is confident that we will continue our forward momentum while navigating this senior leadership transition.”
Dr. Sawyer’s interim appointment will extend into February 2025. A national search for the medical school dean is anticipated to begin later this year. Dr. Termuhlen assumed her role as the medical school’s second dean in May 2021. During her tenure, she navigated the pandemic and initiated a focus on health equity.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and the medical school community, I want to extend our appreciation for her leadership during this dynamic time. We wish her the best in her future endeavors,” said Montgomery.
Prior to joining WMed, Dr. Sawyer served in numerous leadership positions at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center including vice chair for clinical affairs and quality for the Department of Surgery, chief of the Division of Acute Care Surgery and Outcomes Research, and director of the Surgical Critical Care Residency at the University of Virginia. In 2015, he was named the C. Bruce Morton Professor of Surgery. In addition to his work in medical education, Dr. Sawyer has been a leader in the clinical setting, having served as medical co-director of the University of Virginia Surgical-Trauma Burn Intensive Care Unit and medical director of the University of Virginia Surgical Intermediate Care Unit, both for more than 16 years. Dr. Sawyer earned his MD degree from the University of Michigan in 1986 and completed his surgery residency at the University of Virginia Medical Center. While in residency training, Dr. Sawyer also completed a surgical infectious diseases fellowship. In 1996, he completed a transplant fellowship at the University of Michigan and, in 2003, he completed a surgical critical care residency at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Dr. Sawyer is board-certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care and is a certified nutrition support practitioner.