NEWS
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
WVSOM names new dean with the summer retirement of administrator
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine ( WVSOM ) has announced Linda Boyd , DO , as the school ’ s new vice president for academic affairs and dean .
She will begin working at WVSOM at the end of June , but her duties as dean will start July 1 , with the retirement of current dean Craig Boisvert , DO , FACOFP , who has served at WVSOM for more than 33 years .
“ It is hard for any team to change leaders — especially when the prior dean is as well-known and loved as Dr . Boisvert . I will ask the team to accept that I am a different person , though I am sure I am in some ways similar ,” Boyd said .
Boisvert , who grew up in Vermont , has called West Virginia home for more than 33 years . He began his career at WVSOM as a faculty member and family physician for 25 years at the Robert C . Byrd Clinic . After five years as faculty , he was selected to serve as chair of the school ’ s family practice section , where he served for a decade . He then served as chair of the WVSOM Department of Clinical Sciences for seven years .
He was selected to become WVSOM ’ s dean about seven years ago . Boisvert ’ s job includes supervising faculty , maintaining responsibility for the curriculum , counseling , and , when necessary , disciplining students and managing the budget .
“ One of my favorite things about my position is when I get to go into the classroom or skills lab and work with students .
There is nothing more rewarding than watching a first-year osteopathic medical student go from their physical diagnosis lab — where they do not understand medical terminology , do not
know how to use diagnostic equipment , and have no medical knowledge — to graduating four years later as a competent new physician ,” Boisvert said .
Like Boisvert , Boyd brings to the position 33 years of academic experience as a family medicine clinical educator and medical school administrator , with a record of excellence in education , funded research , and course administration .
Her nearly eight years as senior associate dean for academic affairs at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine ( RowanSOM ) in Stratford , NJ , have given her experience leading a medical school . In her role , Boyd was responsible for all divisions that dealt with students and education , including curriculum , student affairs , admissions , assessment , advising , faculty development , diversity grants , accreditation , clinical education , clinical skills , simulation , the registrar ’ s office , and continuing medical education .
Boyd hopes to develop a vision for WVSOM within her first year as dean .
“ My immediate goal is to learn the details of the school and meet the people who work at WVSOM so I can understand the strengths and talents available .
By the end of my first six months , I would like to have a clear vision of where we can take the school and to have a plan in place no later than the end of my first year ,” she said .
After joining RowanSOM in 2013 , Boyd helped the school transition from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine — where she received her medical degree in 1984 — to Rowan University . In addition to the transition , she helped increase the school ’ s class sizes and worked toward creating an additional medical school location ,
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