The search for the founding dean of the University of Rhode Island’s new medical school is underway, but URI President Marc Parlange says the person chosen must be perfect for the job.

A single person usually does not make or break an institution, yet the responsibility of finding the right fit cannot be taken lightly, according to Parlange. A founding dean shapes the institution in their determination and active pursuit to build upon the strengths the university already possesses. 

The right person may not be the first person considered, but the process cannot be rushed. During an interview, Parlange said the candidate must be a combination of an academic leader, a communicator and be willing to put their full efforts into completing this long term project. 

The person will need to be able to seamlessly combine what URI already has with their own ideas and it is pivotal that this person be able to work closely with the state, coworkers and academic advisors. Most importantly, they will need to work with deans from other colleges. 

For the advancement of the medical school, it is imperative that the school blends well with the existing educational institutions beyond just URI, according to Parlange. The goal is not to find a cookie-cutter person who could fit the bill, but rather to find a person who wants to be an integral to the health of Rhode Island as a whole.

The new dean sets the pace for the years to come, so the person must take the initiative to work around the clock, according to Parlange. The person chosen must be genuinely invested in the successes of the medical schools and be willing to work tirelessly through setbacks.

Throughout the interview, Parlange consistently went back to the idea that the goal of this school is to improve Rhode Island, that this project was need-based, so the person chosen has to have a deep understanding of the importance of this project. 

“We are looking for someone who is willing to work day and night,” Parlange said. 

The importance is effort, not necessarily just action items. Since the community outside URI is also involved, the person chosen must represent the people it serves. While the process may be long, the road to make this new medical school becomes shorter and shorter with each step, and finding the new dean is the next one.