Bole to leave Medical Center, will return to faculty
Giles G. Bole will step down as dean of the Medical School, effective Aug. 1, to return to the faculty.
Bole, who has served as dean for the past six years, has spent his entire career at the U-M. In addition to serving as a member of the faculty, he has held a number of senior administrative positions, culminating with his appointment as dean in 1990.
“It has been a privilege to serve for the past six years as dean of this Medical School. It has been my desire for some time to move on to other challenges, but last fall the provost and Regents asked me to extend my term as dean in order to provide leadership for the significant changes that were under way in the School’s education and research programs as well as the redesign of the Clinical Delivery System,” Bole says.
“We have made significant progress in the past several months, and I felt it appropriate to discuss with the Provost the timing of my departure. It recently became clear to me that a transition at this time is in the best interest of the Medical School and Medical Center.”
Bole has held several leadership positions at Michigan. He was director of the Rackham Arthritis Research Unit (1969_86) and chief of the Rheumatology Division in the Department of Internal Medicine (1975_86). He has served as senior associate dean, executive associate dean and dean. During his tenure as dean, the Medical School moved from 16th to 9th in rankings of research intensive medical schools in the U.S. News and World Report survey. The School is ranked ninth in total research funding from the National Institutes of Health. It has received numerous awards, grants and honors under his leadership. In 1992, he led the School in a redesign of medical student curriculum, the first such change in 23 years.
“Giles Bole has served the U-M medical community in a number of capacities over the past 35 years and has distinguished himself as a clinician, educator and administrator,” says Homer A. Neal, interim president of the University. “His recent efforts have seen the Medical School respond to and meet the challenges of a rapidly changing health care environment. I know that I join his many colleagues and friends in thanking him for his years of service and dedication to the University community.”
During Bole’s term as dean, construction of Medical Science Research Building III and renovation and remodeling of Medical Science Building I and II were completed. Bole worked with the Michigan Congressional delegation to secure support and funding for the new Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center. In addition, two major construction projects, the Cancer-Geriatric Center and the East Medical Campus, were begun.
“It has been my pleasure as both dean of the School of Dentistry and provost to work with Giles Bole,” says J. Bernard Machen, provost of the University. “Giles has an unusual grasp of the complexities of health care and has brought tremendous energy and leadership to his position. We are all grateful for Giles’ sustained commitment to the U-M and we wish him continued success in the future.”
A search for a new dean has been under way for several months. An interim dean will be appointed shortly, Machen says.
