Two UF College of Medicine faculty take on new leadership roles

Two University of Florida College of Medicine faculty members are now actively involved in new leadership roles as associate deans. Patrick Duff, M.D., associate dean of student affairs, and Wayne T. McCormack, Ph.D., associate dean for graduate education, began working in their new positions in September.

Duff follows Hugh M. “Smiley” Hill, M.D., who stepped down from the position this fall. Although retired, Hill will continue to interview medical school applicants and participate in Match Day and graduation events. He also will meet with medical alumni through various trips and continue to serve as an active emeritus member of the Medical Alumni Board.

As associate dean, Duff says he will strive to be a student advocate and a reliable source for career advice. His primary responsibility is to provide letters of evaluation to help senior medical students secure the residency training positions of their choice. He also will have a role in curriculum development.

The Student Affairs Office also coordinates orientation for new students, Family Day for the first-year students, and graduation activities, as well as serves as the registrar for the college.

A professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Duff also will serve on the college’s academic status and admissions committees.

McCormack succeeds Colin Sumners, Ph.D., a professor of physiology and functional genomics, who is focusing on research and teaching. Sumners is investigating the brain mechanisms by which the hormone angiotensin influences blood pressure, with the goal of defining factors that can lead to hypertension. He will continue to serve as director of the Medical Sciences Research and University Scholars programs for the College of Medicine.

In his new role, McCormack directs the College of Medicine’s doctoral program, the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences. He will strive to ensure the college continues to offer a high-quality doctoral program and recruit outstanding students, including more under-represented minority students.

McCormack plans to develop additional specializations within the program, such as clinical investigation. He also will complete an internal program evaluation and determine whether any changes are needed in areas such as the core curriculum and composition of the advanced concentrations.

McCormack, who is an associate professor of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine, conducts research on the genetics of susceptibility to the human autoimmune disease vitiligo and on the use of peer evaluation in medical education.