Robert S. Fujinami, Ph.D., has been appointed vice dean for faculty and academic affairs in the School of Medicine at University of Utah Health. Michael Good, MD, CEO of U of Utah Health and Dean of the School of Medicine, made the appointment, effective January 1, 2020.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Fujinami undertake this important leadership role in the School of Medicine,” Good said. “He brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the U of Utah Health leadership team, and we look forward to his contributions that will further enhance the careers and professional development of our medical school faculty, and as a result, the educational experiences of our learners.”
Fujinami is a professor in the Department of Pathology, as well as an adjunct professor in the Department of Neurology, where he served as chair of the Promotion, Retention, and Tenure Faculty Review Committees in Neurology. He is a past chair of the SOM’s Faculty Appointment, Review and Advancement Committee and past president of the University of Utah’s Academic senate. He currently serves as assistant vice president for academic affairs at U of Utah Health, effectively fulfilling this role during recent leadership transitions.
“I look forward to partnering with faculty and departments in creating academic environments of success,” Fujinami says. “Obtaining faculty input is crucial to our mission and I want to make sure the faculty within U of Utah Health feel valued and have their voices heard.”
Fujinami has served as a member on five different National Institutes of Health study sections and has received NIH funding for more than 30 years. His lab studies preclinical models for the understanding of treatment for multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
He received his B.A. from the University of Utah through the then-Honors Program in Microbiology and completed his Ph.D. at Northwestern University. He received post-doctoral training and served as an assistant professor at Scripps Research, previously known as The Scripps Research Institute, and associate professor at University of California, San Diego, prior to moving to Utah as a professor.