The Wayne State University Board of Governors confirmed Dr. John Crissman's nomination as dean in March after School of Medicine faculty members voted overwhelmingly to allow the university to forgo a national search.

Dr. Crissman was named dean when the faculty voted to forgo a national search.

"I am very pleased that Dr. Crissman will be at the helm of one of the state's most important institutions of research and education," WSU President Irvin Reid said. "Considering the state of health care in the United States, he has a tough agenda ahead of him, but I have no doubt that his business acumen will serve him in getting the job done."

John Oliver, deputy provost who oversaw the faculty vote, noted that "although it is unusual at Wayne State for a dean to be appointed without a nationwide search, more than 80 percent of the nearly 800 medical faculty members who voted opted to suspend the search, paving the way for Dr. Crissman's permanent appointment." 

The unusual move was necessary, said WSU Vice President for Research George Dambach, PhD, former associate dean for research at the school. "With the current financial problems facing health care in general and especially the DMC, the school and medical center could not afford to spend perhaps a year to search for the same entrepreneurial spirit and dynamic vision that John possesses."

Dr. Dambach praised Dr. Crissman's solid academic grounding, strong leadership qualities and business acumen. "John's sound business base will be critical to our success in meeting our academic mission and continuing to build on our excellence in medical research and education," he said.

Dr. Crissman's track record proves that he has the ability to put together a successful and marketable program. As chairman of pathology from 1990 to 1998, Dr. Crissman consolidated the medical center laboratories into DMC University Laboratories, an outreach operation that succeeds in competing with commercial labs and now grosses $18 million annually. 

Crissman, who had served as interim dean since May 1999, noted, "I am gratified that the university and faculty have faith in me and my vision for the School of Medicine. I am looking forward to continuing our strong mission to education, research and care." 

In a discussion with the faculty before the vote, Dr. Crissman outlined his vision for the medical school's immediate future, which includes:

• working with the school's clinical partner, The Detroit Medical Center, in building a strong clinical program, paving a path toward a university hospital concept; 
• building and expanding relationships with hospitals throughout southeastern Michigan for education and research opportunities; 
• developing financial resources and improving support systems to continue the School of Medicine's ascension in the ranks of top-notch medical research institutions; 
• organizing faculty members into a coordinated practice plan that will allow the school to better use its clinical strengths; and
• promoting the school's integral role in providing first-rate education to tomorrow's physicians, cutting-edge research and high-quality care to the community.

Building on the momentum of the last decade, Dr. Crissman has already made headway in implementing key initiatives. He has expanded opportunities for clinical training to sites outside the medical center, working with the OHEP consortium for medical education. He has heightened the school's philanthropy efforts in recognition of the critical need for endowment for continued success. And he plans to organize the faculty practice to aggressively compete in today's marketplace.

Dr. Crissman remains focused on the school's primary mission to provide excellent education to our students. He emphasizes the school's role in providing physicians to our community, and cites the school's ranking as among the top in the country for retaining in-state students, providing primary care physicians, and graduating African-American physicians. He also points out that WSU is 14th in the nation for the number of its graduates who hold faculty physicians at medical schools.

Before being named interim dean, Dr. Crissman had a brief turn as the school's associate dean for research. During his six months in the position, Dr. Crissman consolidated the university's grants' processing for health care at Scott Hall in an effort to streamline the process. "The jury's still out on that move," Dr. Crissman admits as he acknowledges the overwhelming backlog the office faces, "but I have every confidence in my successor [Dr. Thomas Uhde] to get things on track."

Continuing the school's growth in research will be one of the challenges Dr. Crissman faces. The school currently ranks 22nd of the country's 125 medical school's for research funding, with $99 million in total research expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Crissman has his own track record for research. He has written more than 250 papers and chapters in books focusing on the study of cancer and the spread of malignant tumors. Before coming to WSU in 1981 Dr. Crissman served as professor of pathology and director of surgical pathology at the University of Cincinnati and vice chairman of pathology at Henry Ford Hospital.

From 1968 to 1970, Dr. Crissman was a captain in the United States Air Force. He received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.