The Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Sudbury has announced a new Dean and Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Sarita Verma's appointment was unanimously approved by the medical school's board of directors last month.
She's currently vice president of education at The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada in Ottawa.
Dr. Verma replaces Roger Strasser, who is retiring at the end of June, beginning July 1st.
“Dr. Verma’s passion, vision and experience will continue to propel NOSM toward world leadership in distributed, community-engaged and socially accountable medical education.” said Dr. Pierre Zundel, Chair of the NOSM Board of Directors.
“I’m grateful to the Board for the opportunity to lead this incredible medical school, and honoured to continue with the momentum created in the past 15 years. I am deeply committed to serving the people of Northern Ontario, to leading progress in Indigenous and Francophone health and cultivating innovation in clinical research." said Dr. Verma.
Under Strasser, NOSM became the first medical school in the world to have all its students spend their entire third year in a northern Ontario community and take a four-week immersive cultural experience living and learning in Indigenous communities.
“I intend to build on these important relationships, with our communities, our partners in health care and education, key stakeholders, and the people of the North, to improve the health and well-being of the people of our region,” says Dr. Verma.
The outgoing Dean Strasser is pleased with the appointment.
“I congratulate Dr. Verma on her appointment and commend the NOSM Board on the successful recruitment of such a high-calibre appointee. It would be hard for me to think of anyone better suited to be my successor,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean and CEO, NOSM.
