Linda Chaudron Appointed School of Medicine Dean for Diversity

Linda Chaudron Appointed School of Medicine Dean for Diversity 

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Dean Mark B. Taubman, M.D., has appointed Linda Chaudron, M.D., M.S., the School’s senior associate dean for diversity.

In making the appointment, Taubman has elevated the position from associate dean status and expanded the area of responsibility to include medical students, residents, graduate students and fellows, as well as faculty.

“Diversity will become more central to our mission and our culture by having this enhanced position,” Taubman said. “Dr. Chaudron has a longstanding commitment to these issues. I know she will bring a fresh perspective and a resolve that will help us move forward in creating the more diverse School that is so important for our continued success.”

Chaudron replaces the former associate dean for faculty development-women and diversity, Vivien Lewis, M.D., who last year became deputy to the University president and vice provost for faculty development and diversity for the University.

Chaudron is an associate professor of Psychiatry who serves as the Department of Psychiatry’s associate chair for clinical services. With research interests in postpartum and perinatal depression in women, she also holds secondary appointments in Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

She is a graduate of the School of Medicine and Dentistry who completed her residency in psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she also completed a fellowship in women’s health. Chaudron, who has been active in the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s diversity efforts since she was a medical student here in the early 1990’s, worked with a former dean of the School, David S. Guzick, M.D, Ph.D., in developing the original diversity position in 2006. Since 2006, Chaudron has served on the advisory committee to the associate dean for women and diversity.

Chaudron will continue in the Department of Psychiatry, but the allocation of time to the senior associate dean’s role in diversity issues has been significantly expanded.

“The original concept for this position focused on faculty recruitment, development and retention,” Chaudron said. “With the dean’s expanded vision, my work will cut across the School of Medicine. We will look to improve the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty but we also want diversity among our medical students, residents, graduate students, fellows and post-doctorates. By increasing the diversity of our trainees and our faculty, we can better reflect the diversity of the patients we treat.”

In addition to recruitment and job issues, Chaudron plans to conduct seminars on diversity topics that provide continuing medical education credits and faculty development opportunities.

“We will develop tangible programs that will increase the diversity of the faculty and all aspects of the School of Medicine and address the concerns of women and under-represented faculty in medicine and science,” Chaudron said. “We also will provide opportunities for greater appreciation of diverse individuals and their cultures.”

James Woods, M.D., chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and co-chair of the search committee for the diversity position, said: “Linda Chaudron demonstrated to the search committee a unique awareness of the importance of expanding our commitment to diversity, and an understanding of the challenges, both for the School of Medicine and the Medical Center, but more importantly, for the individual of minority status seeking to integrate into our academic environment.”

Elizabeth McAnarney, M.D., chair emerita of the Department of Pediatrics and search committee co-chair, praised Chaudron’s long history of leadership on diversity within the Medical Center.

“As a graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and a member of our faculty for 12 years, she understands the many opportunities we have to recruit and retain faculty of diverse backgrounds so we can better serve our patients and our trainees,” McAnarney said.

* For Media Inquiries: Michael Wentzel (585) 275-1309
**  The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center