By Jennifer L. Berghom
Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS—MAY, 11, 2017— The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has named Dr. John H. Krouse as its new vice president for Medical Affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.
Krouse comes to the Valley from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he serves as the senior associate dean for clinical affairs; president of Temple University Physicians; professor and chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery; and director of the Head and Neck Institute at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. He also served as associate dean for Graduate Medical Education from 2012 to 2015.
“Dr. Krouse has extensive experience in many key areas that will play an important role in moving the UTRGV School of Medicine forward,” said UTRGV President Guy Bailey. “Temple has traditionally been ranked as one of the top research-oriented medical schools in the nation, so to attract someone of Dr. Krouse’s caliber is a credit to the faculty, staff and students we already have in place.”
Krouse, who begins his new role July 1, said he looks forward to joining the UTRGV School of Medicine and working in collaboration with its partner health care institutions and other stakeholders in the community.
“This position reflects a unique opportunity to shape the careers of a generation of young physicians and to build healthcare programs that improve the access to and quality of care in the Valley,” he said. “It is uncommon that new medical schools are opened, and to play a role in the development of this new college is a personal and professional honor and privilege. I recognize that the Valley has worked hard over the last 70 years to bring our School of Medicine into existence, and I pledge to work closely with all of the Valley’s citizens to create a center of excellence that will provide exceptional clinical, educational, and research activities in support of our strong and diverse community.”
Bailey also announced that interim dean Dr. Steve Lieberman and Dr. Elizabeth Fehsenfeld will stay with the School of Medicine for several months to assist Krouse in a seamless transition and to contribute to LCME accreditation activities.
“This is an exciting time for UTRGV and our School of Medicine, and I’d like to thank the search committee for conducting an excellent hiring process,” Bailey said. “We are also grateful to Elizabeth and Steve for their service during the interim and for their ongoing dedication to the School of Medicine.”
UTRGV began its search for a permanent dean for the School of Medicine last fall, forming a committee composed of representatives from the university, hospital partners and the community-at-large.
Dr. Kenneth Shine, consultant to the president of UTRGV, and Dr. Michael Lehker, dean of the UTRGV College of Health Affairs, co-chaired the committee.
“An accomplished leader and administrator, Dr. Krouse has demonstrated extraordinary skills in developing educational and clinical programs, recruiting faculty, leading research efforts and in commitment to community,” Shine said. “He is a proverbial ‘quadruple threat.’”
Krouse graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Rochester, New York. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He received a Master of Business Administration from the Fox School of Business at Temple University in 2014.
He completed his internship in surgery at Beth Israel Hospital and his residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School in Boston. He is board certified in otolaryngology.
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, UTRGV’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, also hailed Krouse’s hiring.
“Dr. Krouse’s proven leadership will serve UTRGV and the School of Medicine well in continuing to ensure student success and secure the medical school as a leader in innovative education for our medical students,” Rodríguez said.
