Mary Dekker Nettleman named USD Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the Sanford School of
Nettleman, a nationally-recognized expert in several areas, including epidemiologic and health outcomes research, has served as Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine since 2003. Previously, she served as Associate Dean for Primary Care and Division Chief for General Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, and prior to that, she was a member of the faculty at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.
“Dr. Nettleman’s qualifications and experience in health care and health education guarantees the tradition of excellence at the Sanford School of Medicine and School of Health Sciences will continue,” stated James W. Abbott, USD President.
A Master of the American College of Physicians, a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical society, and a recipient of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Shepard Award for Excellence in Scientific Achievement, Nettleman has repeatedly been listed among the “Best Doctors in America.” Her primary research focus is women’s health and she is currently the principal investigator on a multimillion dollar National Institute of Health grant, “Building Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health.” She also serves on the Board of the Association of Professors of Medicine.
Nettleman, a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Indiana University. Nettleman earned her master's degree in preventive medicine/epidemiology from the University of Iowa.
“I am excited to be joining USD as Vice President of Health Affairs and Dean of the Sanford School of Medicine,” Nettleman said. “I especially look forward to working with the excellent faculty and students who have given the program a reputation for excellence.”
Nettleman becomes the 14th dean of the medical school, succeeding Rodney R. Parry, who has served as dean on an interim basis since retiring from the position last June. During Parry’s tenure, the medical school developed a new pediatrics residency program, the School of Health Sciences was created, the state-of-the-art Lee Medical Building was built in Vermillion and a Clinical Skills and Simulation Center on the Sioux Falls Medical School campus is scheduled for completion in 2012.
A photo of Dr. Nettleman is available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Mary_Nettleman.jpg.