J. Patrick Ryan, PhD, has been named senior assistant dean for Basic Science Curriculum in the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). Dr. Ryan, who has been with UTHSC since 1988, previously served as assistant dean for Basic Science Curriculum. He also is a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry and the Department of Medical Education. He coordinates the preclinical curriculum and continues to teach microbiology content to medical students.
In his new role, Dr. Ryan will be responsible for working with the College of Medicine faculty, first- and second-year course and module directors, the associate dean for Medical Education, and the Office of Medical Education to coordinate the basic science (pre-clinical) curriculum; establish and facilitate course and classroom scheduling; oversee student evaluations and exams; co-create, develop and implement curricular innovations; and oversee course and module director evaluations.
He will also work with faculty on development initiatives for the basic science curriculum, counsel first- and second-year medical students having academic difficulty, and lead quality improvement efforts, while ensuring accreditation compliance related to the first- and second-year medical curriculum.
“The promotion of Dr. Ryan is well-deserved for the many contributions he has made to the College of Medicine and Office of Medical Education,” said Michael Whitt, PhD, associate dean and chair of Medical Education for the College of Medicine. “His accomplishments are too numerous to list, but a few include his outstanding teaching, his support of students through one-on-one counseling and remediation, and his role in managing the first- and second-year medical curriculum. Dr. Ryan was the architect and faculty lead for our last successful Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation site visit in 2013 and will be a key member for our upcoming site visit in 2021.”
Dr. Ryan received his Bachelor of Science degree in bacteriology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and his PhD in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.