Farrell to serve as vice chancellor for medical affairs

Philip M. Farrell, dean of the UW Medical School, was named vice chancellor for medical affairs Wednesday, Jan. 24, by Chancellor John Wiley.

Farrell will continue as dean of the UW Medical School while assuming the new vice chancellor role. The new position differs from the previous role of vice chancellor for health sciences in that it does not include oversight of the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy.

The reconfigured position reflects the growing complexity of medical affairs at the university, according to Wiley.

“Dr. Farrell is a renowned physician-scientist and a skilled administrator and leader, and I’m pleased that he has agreed to take on this important role at the university,” Wiley says.

Farrell will serve as the point person for medical-related issues at the university, working with UW–Madison and UW System leaders, government officials, business leaders and concerned individuals.

Among his many duties, Farrell will assume responsibility for further development of the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, the practice plan of UW faculty physicians. He will serve as chairman of the board of directors and will seek to advance the academic department model of group practice with attention to enterprise needs.

Farrell will also be responsible for the continued successful integration between UW Health and Physicians Plus. That will include an emphasis on promoting the Medical School’s academic and clinical missions and service to the other health sciences schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine).

Other responsibilities will include reorganizing internal medical leadership groups to optimize strategic planning and communications; enhancing the executive relationships with the UW Hospital and Clinics while representing the Medical School and the medical foundation; and developing stronger communications and collaborative programs with Meriter Hospital and other hospital affiliates.

“This appointment will help us more effectively address the first item in the Medical School’s new strategic plan, which is to successfully integrate the UW Medical Foundation, the UW Hospital and Clinics, Meriter Hospital (Physicians Plus) and the Medical School,” Farrell says.

“The new responsibilities will allow us to manage all medical affairs at UW–Madison in a more streamlined, efficient and effective manner,” he adds. “I feel this expansion of duties is a natural evolution of the Medical School deanship and is consistent with national trends and responsive to recommendations from faculty leaders and our consultants.”

Farrell has been a faculty member at UW Medical School for 24 years. Dean of the school since 1995, he served as chair of the pediatrics department for 10 years. Under his leadership in the past half-decade, the school has gone through a major curriculum revision and a meticulous strategic planning process, putting it on course for its goal of comprehensive excellence in research, teaching, primary care and community service.

He has also taken the lead in HealthStar, the Medical School’s ambitious fund-raising campaign designed to support the construction of world-class academic facilities on the west campus.

Farrell graduated from St. Louis University in 1970 with an M.D. and Ph.D. (biochemistry). After a residency in pediatrics at UW Hospital and Clinics, he spent five years at the National Institutes of Health. A nationally known expert on lung diseases, he specializes in cystic fibrosis and has led an NIH-supported investigation on early diagnosis through newborn screening. He is a staunch supporter of screening newborns for cystic fibrosis, and guided the state of Wisconsin to include CF in its screening panel for all newborns.

Farrell’s salary has not yet been finalized.