The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) announced the appointment of Terry Kind, MD, MPH, as Associate Dean for MD Education, and Marcia Firmani, PhD, MSPH, as Interim Associate Dean for Health Sciences.
Effective immediately, both Kind and Firmani will report to Senior Associate Dean for Education Lorenzo Norris, MD, in support of the ongoing development, implementation, and evaluation of degree-granting programs within the SMHS education pillar.
“As we continue to refine the SMHS education pillar of the Strategic Plan, Drs. Kind and Firmani will provide vital leadership for the offices and units that support our MD and health sciences programs, respectively,” said Barbara Lee Bass, MD, vice president for health affairs, dean of GW SMHS, Bloedorn Professor of Administrative Medicine, and professor of surgery.
In her new capacity, Kind will lead the undergraduate medical education curriculum to ensure it remains integrated with the school’s mission, meeting all accreditation criteria and preparing students for the complexities of modern clinical practice. She will supervise key education units and leadership roles, including the Assistant Deans for Pre-Clinical Education and Evaluation, to maintain outcome-based learning objectives and innovative pedagogies. Kind also will work closely with the Committee on Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum and lead preparations for LCME self-study and accreditation processes.
“Dr. Kind is a distinguished pediatrician, a scholar, and a tireless advocate for excellence in medical education,” said Bass.
“Her deep commitment to our students was previously demonstrated during her seven-year tenure as the Director of Pediatrics Medical Student Education, where she helped shape the foundation for a new generation of physicians.”
Since joining GW in 2012 as an assistant professor, Firmani has distinguished herself as a dedicated educator and scholar. She has served as chair of the Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences (BLS) since 2019 and will continue in that role, as well as associate professor of BLS, alongside her new responsibilities as Interim Associate Dean.
As Interim Associate Dean for Health Sciences, Firmani will provide strategic leadership and oversight for all health sciences academic programs and represent these programs in school-wide strategic collaborations. She also will work to develop administrative and student support structures integrated within the overall Education Pillar. In addition, Firmani will collaborate closely with department chairs and staff leaders to ensure the continued success of their respective programs.
“Dr. Firmani’s deep institutional knowledge and proven leadership of the BLS Department make her uniquely qualified to guide the health sciences during this period as we resume our formal search for a permanent appointee.”
Her appointment, added Bass, “ensures that our tradition of educational excellence remains seamless as we move forward.”
