College of Medicine hires first dean of academic affairs

College of Medicine officials have hired Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, as the College’s first associate executive dean of academic affairs. Simpson, 63, who has done substantial research in the genetics field, will be responsible for the hiring of faculty and helping to lead the nascent College of Medicine’s accreditation process. He will assume his responsibilities on Feb. 23.

“For the past 30 years I’ve had a wonderful and productive career, but I’ve never had the honor of being called upon to help start something new,” Simpson said. “I’m looking forward to all the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

The College of Medicine is expected to admit the first class in the fall of 2009.

Simpson comes to FIU from Baylor College of Medicine, where he teaches in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, of which he is a former chairman. He has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ (NAS) Institute of Medicine since 1994. He received his medical degree from Duke University and completed post-graduate work at several institutions, including Cornell University. From 1975-1986, Simpson was the head of the Section of Human Genetics at the Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He was also chair at the University of Tennessee’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1986 to 1994 before working at Baylor, where he held the same position until last year.

FIU College of Medicine Dean and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Dr. John Rock said Simpson’s appointment is of great strategic importance because of his wide recognition within the U.S. scientific community and his administrative experience. In addition to his role in accreditation, Simpson will oversee areas such as research, curriculum development and faculty development.

“In an already established program, Dr. Simpson’s role is very important. In a brand new program like ours, however, it is vital,” said Rock. “We’re very pleased he accepted the position. His administrative experience is extensive and his name in research circles is well-respected by both his peers and the agencies that fund medical research.”

College of Nursing to honor alumni

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is accepting nominations for 25 outstanding nursing alumni to be recognized at its Silver Jubilee Alumni Dinner on Saturday, April 14, at the Doral Golf Resort.

Résumés and nominations letter(s) from colleague or employer describing the nominee’s achievements in nursing research, practice and education, as well as community service, are due by Wednesday, Feb. 28. You can send them via e-mail to Hazel Matthews at matthewh@fiu.edu or to:

Hazel Matthews
FIU College of Nursing and Health Sciences
HLS II 466
11200 S.W. 8th St.
Miami, FL 33199

You can still support the FIU Relay for Life

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Third Annual FIU Relay for Life on Feb. 9. The event drew an estimated 2,700 people and raised more than $58,000 in 14 hours. Forty-seven participating teams gathered in the Football Stadium at UP to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, to remember family and friends who have lost their battles with the diseases, to honor survivors and to enjoy a night of food, games, music and fun.

“Although we did not reach our goal of $70,000 – yet – we will continue to raise funds until the end of the Relay season, which is May,” said Beverly Dalrymple, Relay for Life advisor and director for the Center for Leadership & Service. “One of our challenges this year was moving the event up two months. We usually have it in April but needed to make the change this year so we could use the Football Stadium. The teams had less time to raise funds.”

The top fund-raising team was the Undergraduate Studies team, which brought in more than $6,000. This was a faculty/staff team so the bar has been raised for the future, Dalrymple says. Six faculty/staff teams participated in this year’s Relay for Life.

“We hope the FIU Relay for Life will become the signature event that unites the university in the common goal of finding a cure for cancer,” added Dalrymple. For more information on the FIU Relay for Life or to make a donation, visit www.fiu.edu/~rfl.

CBA to offer bank compliance certificate

FIU is expected to become the first accredited university in the United States to validate an anti-money laundering compliance certificate when the College of Business Administration starts offering an anti-money laundering certificate program in partnership with the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA).

The program will be similar to anti-money laundering training courses FIBA has offered for several years with its own certificate. FIBA will provide instructors and course materials.

The first classes in the non-credit program are scheduled to start this spring at FIU's downtown Miami campus. Online classes are expected to start by June. For more information, please visit http://cba.fiu.edu.