The founding dean of WSU's new medical school will be Dr. John Tomkowiak, now dean of the Chicago Medical School and experienced in setting up community-based medical schools.
Dan Bernado, WSU's interim president, said Tomkowiak was instrumental in incubating medical schools similar to the Spokane program in Florida, New York, and Illinois.
And Lisa Brown, the WSU Health Sciences chancellor, seconded that, saying Tomkowiak's background as a psychiatrist complements the behavioral health and addiction research already underway in Spokane.
Tomkowiak is scheduled to take up his new duties next month, and he said he's eager to jump in. He said finishing up the accreditation process is the most important job right now.
Tomkowiak earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, and his MD from the Southern Illinois University. He's also familiar with Spokane, having earned a masters of organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.
And psychiatry runs in the family. Tomkowiak's wife, Sherri, is also a practicing psychiatrist.