Dr. Duane Mezwa has been appointed interim dean of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester Hills, effective immediately. He also serves as the chief academic officer of OUWB for William Beaumont Hospital.
Mezwa’s appointment comes after the January announcement that former dean Robert Folberg was stepping down.
Mezwa is a 40-year employee of Beaumont Health, and most recently served as health system chair and physician executive for diagnostic radiology and molecular imaging. He also has been serving as chair of the department of diagnostic radiology and molecular imaging for OUWB.
“Duane understands OUWB on many levels and has already played an integral role in the success of the school from its formation until today,” says James P. Lentini, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Oakland University. “As we discussed the future leadership of the medical school, he stood out as a natural fit to lead us as interim dean while a national search is conducted for a permanent dean.”
Mezwa served as vice chair on the inaugural admissions committee for OUWB and also served on the deans executive committee. He chairs the student performance review committee and has represented the clinical faculty to the Association of American Medical Colleges as a member of the Council of Faculty Academic Societies.
“Dr. Mezwa is exceptionally well-respected both at Beaumont Health and at OUWB,” says Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, president of Oakland. “He has served as chair of radiology with distinction and is a seasoned health-care administrator, educator, and physician-scientist. His leadership within OUWB since its founding positions him to be an outstanding interim dean who will keep us on the strong trajectory led by our founding dean, Robert Folberg. I am highly enthusiastic about his selection.”
As a researcher, Mezwa has authored articles and contributed chapters to medical textbooks. He has also presented at medical conferences across the U.S. and has been invited to speak as a visiting professor at nearly 60 locations nationwide.
Mezwa served as president of the Association of Program Directors in Radiology and was president of the Michigan Radiological Society, a chapter of the American College of Radiology. He was a member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Radiology Residency Review Committee and served as its vice chair. He served as a member of the board of trustees and the board of governors for the American Board of Radiology.
After graduating from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1979, Mezwa did his residency at Beaumont before becoming an attending radiologist in 1983. He served as program director for 15 years, then was vice chair and eventually the health system chair and physician executive for diagnostic radiology and molecular imaging.
