Western Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM) has announced two strategic promotions as the University prepares for continued growth.
Dr. Paula Wales, Executive Dean and Chief Academic Officer, has been promoted to the position of Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.
With nearly 30 years of experience in US and international medical education, Dr. Wales is among the foremost experts in both accreditation standards and curriculum oversight in North America. Under her leadership, WAUSM has successfully achieved provisional accreditation by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), a process that progresses in sequence from candidacy status to full accreditation.
Dr. Wales has served as the Founding Executive Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C Patel College of Allopathic Medicine. A Harvard Macy Scholar, Dr. Wales has also given more than 126 invited talks, peer-reviewed presentations, and faculty development workshops and has published more than 48 peer-reviewed abstracts, papers, and chapters, the majority of which focus on curricular evaluation and assessment.
In her new, expanded role at WAUSM, Dr. Wales will provide strategic direction and vision for all University-level academic programs, faculty development, research initiatives, and student initiatives.
Dr. Scott Ippolito, Associate Dean, Clinical Sciences and Chair and Professor of Family Medicine, has been promoted to the position of Executive Dean and Chief Academic Officer and Chair of Family Medicine in the School of Medicine.
Over his 35+-year career as a physician, Dr. Ippolito has had a long and diversified career in academic, administrative, and clinical medicine, as well as in healthcare leadership and business. He has served as chair of family medicine since 1993 at three different academic medical centers, most recently at the Icahn School of Medicine’s Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in New York.
Over the course of his career, he has participated in developing and overseeing medical student programs and residencies, as well as hospital leadership and clinical practice. His previous professional experience also includes being associate dean of clinical sciences and assistant dean of academic affairs at Ross University School of Medicine.
In his new role, Dr. Ippolito will provide administrative leadership, academic oversight, and represent the medical school in (inter)national organizations.
“These promotions recognize the outstanding contributions of these individuals to the educational mission of WAUSM,” said Dr. Joseph Flaherty, President and Chief Medical Officer. “We are growing and looking ahead to ensure we are meeting the needs not only of our students today, but also the needs of our future students in our current programs and those we may add to our portfolio down the line.”
He continued, “With these changes, we poise WAUSM to continue its role as a leader in medical education.”