WSU College of Medicine adds new deans

By Doug Nadvornick, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

DeWitt,-left,-and-FrancisSPOKANE, Wash. – The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine has hired two new administrators.

Dawn DeWitt is vice dean for student and faculty experience. Luisita Francis is assistant dean for community engagement.

DeWitt will provide strategic leadership for the college’s educational portfolio. She has been active in medical education innovation and leadership for more than 20 years in the U.S., Australia and Canada. She is a general internist with an interest in diabetes and has worked with underserved, rural and indigenous populations.

She comes to Spokane at a time when the college is preparing for an accreditation visit in June that will help determine whether the first class of students can be recruited.

“It is beyond exciting to help create a new College of Medicine that will train doctors for Washington State,” DeWitt said. “I’m also looking forward to doing some clinical work and teaching here in general medicine and diabetes.”

Francis will help the college develop relationships with campus and clinical partners around Washington.

She is a pediatrician by training, having worked in private practice in Los Angeles and Bakersfield, Calif. Most recently, she was executive director of Excelerate Success, a Spokane County educational attainment partnership for children, where she developed skills in collaboration and partnership building across a range of industries.

“I’m excited to help the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine find the places and develop the programs where our students will have great learning experiences,” Francis said.

 

Contact:
Doug Nadvornick, WSU College of Medicine communications, 509-358-7540, doug.nadvornick@wsu.edu

 

 

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