With mixed emotions, the College of Medicine announces the retirement of George I. Litman, MD, FACC, FACP, as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine effective June 30, 2016. Dr. Litman has served in this capacity since July 2007. His commitment to medical education has been long standing. We look forward to a celebration for Dr. Litman the near future.
During his tenure as Chair, Dr. Litman served in many leadership capacities, including as chair of the volunteer appointments and promotions committee since 2002; a member of the honorary degree committee; chair of the continuing professional education advisory committee; presidential search committee; and a member of the search committee for the chair of the department of family and community medicine. The extensive work Dr. Litman has embraced at NEOMED has left an indelible mark on so many.
In recognition of the numerous contributions and unwavering dedication to NEOMED, I am pleased to announce his status, pending Board approval, as chair and professor emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine. His unwavering dedication to students and to NEOMED remains and he will continue to be engaged with medical students and residents.
The Department of Internal Medicine will continue into the future with outstanding leadership. Dr. Joseph Zarconi, a graduate of our university, has been appointed Chair of the department effective July 1, 2016. He will also serve as Clinical Director for Health Humanities Education and maintain a strong teaching role with our students.
Joseph Zarconi, M.D., FACP (‘81), formerly served as a system vice president for medical education and chief academic officer at Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio. He also served as associate dean for clinical education and professor of internal medicine for Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). A charter class member at NEOUCOM (now NEOMED), he completed residency and chief residency in internal medicine at Akron City Hospital and nephrology fellowship at University Hospitals of Cleveland. He has presented at state, national and international meetings, and he has authored numerous articles and book chapters focused on medical education, narrative medicine, narrative ethics, humanism and professionalism in medicine, and co-authored two books on narrative in health care. A member of the NEOMED Master Teacher Guild and recognized as a Master Teacher by the American College of Physicians, Dr. Zarconi recently received the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Parker J. Palmer Courage to Lead Award.
Join me in wishing a fond farewell to Dr. George Litman and in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Joseph Zarconi.
Regards,
Jeffrey Susman, M.D.
Dean, College of Medicine