By Kyle Winslow
Dr. Edward Halperin took over as dean of the University of Louisville School of Medicine last Wednesday after being formally named to the position in August.
“I am looking forward to starting the teaching part of my job and my job as a doctor who takes care of children with cancer. The best part of both of these activities will be getting to know the students, staff and faculty better,” said Halperin.
Halperin replaces Dr. Mark Pfeifer, who has served as interim dean since Aug. 2005.
“I am just settling into the city, but my wife and I like what we have seen so far,” said Halperin. “We are looking forward to taking advantage of Louisville’s rich cultural life and all that the city has to offer.”
“I believe that a person is known for their scholarship, their good deeds, and their acts of charity; but a good name is most important of all. I would hope that at the end of my term as dean of the University of Louisville School of Medicine I would have achieved a good name: a person who believes in the vision he articulated and strove to achieve it,” Halperin said.
Every new beginning starts with an end, and leaving Duke was difficult for Halperin, he said. “I think the hardest thing about leaving Duke is leaving some of my patients, even though I know they are in good hands,” he said.
For 23 years Halperin has cared for thousands of children with cancer requiring various forms of radiation therapy.
“My most important contribution has been to work with these little heroes and their families in dealing with cancer and its aftermath. These children have educated me far beyond anything I have done for them,” Halperin said.
Halperin holds a positive outlook on the university and is eager to set forth a relationship with the school and its community.
“The University of Louisville has what I would call ‘outrageous ambition.’ In a world in which there are many pulls and tugs on medical schools, U of L is building buildings, growing a cancer center and getting deeply involved in the basic science of congestive heart failure. That’s a very exciting agenda,” he said.
“I am looking forward to working with a talented group of people that have this can-do spirit,” he added.
With all of the projects underway at the medical school, Halperin may just have his work cut out for him. That work includes getting acquainted with the students at the school. Some pupils, who say they stay busy with their work and studies, are hoping to meet the new dean as he dives in to his role.
Graduate medical student Paria Majd said, “[We]] are so busy trying to learn the material that we don’t even know what the new dean plans on doing.”
Still, Halperin says he has several goals to keep the students and staff at the med school moving forward. Adding, he wants to work on assuring appropriate student services for the highest quality of student life inside and outside of the classroom, while also strengthening relations with affiliated hospitals and community practices and participating actively in key faculty recruits.
