John Malone Jr., MD, has been appointed chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the WSU School of Medicine. He is also specialistin- chief of obstetrics and gynecology at the Detroit Medical Center.

A 1977 graduate of the School of Medicine, Dr. Malone has spent the bulk of his professional career at WSU. Dr. Malone has served in a number of leadership positions within the school and the Detroit Medical Center in addition to his clinical and research activities. He is currently the medical center’s senior vice president for academic affairs.

“John Malone’s medical knowledge and administrative aptitude have made him a valuable member of the WSU community for the past two decades,” Dr. Crissman said. “He is a proven leader who will continue to serve the school well in this new role.”

In discussing his own goals for the department, Dr. Malone’s comments move quickly beyond internal organizational concerns and begin to address the tremendous impact his department’s clinicians and researchers can have on the greater good.

“Not only do we want to remain one of the preeminent academic departments in the country and continue to set standards for people in the field, we also have to keep in mind that 60 percent of southeast Michigan’s physicians have at least some of their training at Wayne State,” he said. “We want to take advantage of that prominence among current and future medical professionals to improve the overall health of women in the area.”

A highly regarded gynecological oncologist, Dr. Malone has had his chances to take his medical and administrative expertise elsewhere. Two important fac-  tors, however, have served to keep him plying his craft in his present location.

First, as a native Detroiter with a large extended family in the area, Dr. Malone gets an added thrill from the ability to practice so close to those he loves. More important to him, however, are the special responsibilities and benefits of working in this particular setting.

“Drs. Crissman and (Detroit Medical Center CEO Arthur) Porter have consistently reaffirmed WSU’s and DMC’s mission as the safety net of care in this community,” he said. “I have the ability and the responsibility to treat people here that might not get treatment elsewhere. That alone is probably the biggest part of why I am still here.”