The University of Toledo (UToledo) is planning a new search for the next dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.
Dr. Imran Ali, professor and Clair Martig Endowed Chair in the Department of Neurology, will serve as interim dean of the college following the departure of Dr. Christopher Cooper, who announced in October that after a decade in the dean role he intended to step down in 2024 and return to the cardiovascular medicine faculty. Ali’s appointment is effective July 15.
The University conducted a search during the 2023-24 academic year that yielded a strong set of finalists but did not secure a new dean. The University is currently in the process of contracting with a national search firm partner who will be responsible for leading national searches for key UToledo leaders and will assist with recruiting the next medical school dean.
“A strong College of Medicine and Life Sciences is important for a strong University of Toledo and we are committed to recruiting a candidate who can build upon the excellent academic reputation of our College of Medicine and Life Sciences, enhance our research enterprise, and strengthen our clinical partnerships with UToledo Health and through the updated academic affiliation agreement with ProMedica,” said Dr. Scott Molitor, interim provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. “As we prepare to relaunch that search, Dr. Ali’s institutional knowledge and the respect he has earned from his colleagues in the college and across the University throughout the past nearly 30 years will ensure we continue the medical school’s positive momentum.”
Ali joined the faculty of the then Medical College of Ohio in 1996. He has held a number of administrative positions throughout his career, most recently as vice dean for undergraduate medical education and the inaugural chair of the Department of Medical Education. He also has served as senior associate dean for academic affairs, associate dean for medical education, professionalism and diversity, and assistant dean for clinical undergraduate medical education.
Ali has had a significant role in medical education at a national level. He has served as a member of the Neurology Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). He is currently serving as the director of the Board of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
“I appreciate the confidence placed in me to provide interim leadership of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences,” Ali said. “My goal is to build programs in collaboration with the leadership of the medical school, university and health system partners, as well as all other key stakeholders, as we continue to prepare for growth and success for the future.”
Ali is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in epilepsy. He serves as director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
Ali has been recognized as an outstanding teacher and has received many teaching awards including multiple Golden Apple Teaching Awards from medical students and the Deans Award for Teaching Excellence. Ali has been consistently listed in the Best Doctors of America. He also received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award twice and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Ali earned his medical degree from Aga Khan University in Pakistan and completed residency and an epilepsy/clinical neurophysiology fellowship at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He recently completed the America Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Council of Deans fellowship in 2022. Ali lives in Sylvania with his wife, Umber, and has three children, Sanya, Zara and Suleiman.
About the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, located in Toledo, Ohio, is dedicated to advancing medical and life sciences education through innovative research, education, and service. The college is known for its comprehensive medical programs and its commitment to addressing the evolving needs of healthcare.
About Dr. Christopher Cooper
Dr. Christopher Cooper is the Interim Dean of the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. An expert in cardiology, he has made significant contributions to medical research and education. Dr. Cooper is committed to advancing healthcare through innovative research and the integration of new technologies in medical practice.
Sources:
- News Source: UToledo News
- School Source: UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences