UH Medical School Dean accepts position at University of Texas

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Gregg Takayama, (808) 692-0988
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Posted: Jul 17, 2006

Dr. Samuel Shomaker, interim dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), has announced that he is accepting an appointment at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. His appointment to be Dean of Austin Programs is effective September 1, 2006.

In a letter to colleagues, the dean said he leaves the UH medical school with mixed emotions. "JABSOM is a special place because of its people," he said. "It was has been my great privilege to work with many, many dedicated people during my time here."

Dr. Shomaker joined the medical school in 2000 as associate dean. He was named acting dean in February 2005 when then Dean Edwin Cadman began a medical leave. He was then named interim dean when Cadman announced a few months later that he would not return to the senior position due to continuing illness.

"Sam Shomaker‘s leadership at JABSOM came at a critical time for faculty, staff and students at the school," said UH Manoa Chancellor Denise Konan. "As the school was preparing to move to the new campus in Kakaʻako, Manoa was hit by devastating floods that hit the Biomedical Sciences building especially hard. Sam‘s administrative team was instrumental in the school emerging from the floods and completing the move with minimal disruption.

"I will be consulting with medical school faculty on the matter of interim leadership," Konan added, "but for now we congratulate Dr. Shomaker on his new opportunity on the mainland and wish him well."

A search advisory committee for a permanent dean for JABSOM has been meeting since mid-May. The committee is co-chaired by UH Manoa Vice Chancellor for Research Gary Ostrander and Dew-Anne Langcaon, COO at PacifiCap Management, Hawaiʻi‘s largest locally-based venture capital firm that invests in high technology companies.