NOSM Welcomes Two New Associate Deans

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is pleased to announce the arrival of both Dr. Gerry Cooper to the post of Associate Dean of Learner Affairs and Dr. William McCready to the post of Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs. Both incumbents begin their posts today.

Dr. Cooper succeeds Dr. Tom Szabo, who has been Associate Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs for almost three years. Dr. Cooper will be responsible for the development, administration and delivery of services, programs, policies and procedures which foster academic success for our students and promote a learner-centered environment.

A graduate of the University of Toronto, with a Doctorate in Education, Dr. Cooper has worked for over 30 years in a variety of roles within the mental health and addictions fields. Most recently, he has been based in Sudbury as the Manager (Northern Ontario) with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). As Assistant Professor, Clinical Education with NOSM, Dr. Cooper has been an active teacher in Phase One of the MD program. He is also an Adjunct Professor with the Laurentian University School of Social Work.

Dr. Cooper has produced or co-produced many health and educational resources, including course curricula, videotapes, interactive CD-ROMS and Web pages. Additionally, he helped secure funding for the Northeast Mental Health Public Education Campaign, acting as one of its Regional Steering Committee Co-Chairs. His doctoral thesis from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto won the US National Problem Gambling Council’s 2001 Outstanding Dissertation Award.

In his new position as Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs, Dr. William McCready will be responsible for the recruitment, scheduling and evaluation of faculty members as well as promotion, integration and mentoring of faculty members. He will provide leadership, supervision and representation for the faculty of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in order to ensure the School always has the teaching resources to provide a quality educational experience for the learners while building the capacity and commitment of teaching resources in the North.

Dr. McCready, formerly the Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at NOSM, has been in clinical practice as a nephrologist for 25 years. He participated in the efforts to ensure the Northern Ontario School of Medicine became a true pan-Northern partnership and in the recruitment and hiring of the Founding Dean. Dr. McCready has also enjoyed teaching medical learners in the former Northwestern Ontario Medical Program (NOMP) since 1982.

Dr. McCready graduated in medicine from Queen’s University, Belfast and did postgraduate training in Belfast, Toronto and Saskatoon. He completed a fellowship in peritoneal dialysis under the supervision of Dr. D. Oreopoulos at Toronto Western Hospital.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome both Dr. Cooper and Dr. McCready to their new roles at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. The depth of experience and understanding of health education and facilitation that each incumbent brings will unquestionably contribute to the quality of learner experiences offered at the School,” says NOSM Founding Dean, Dr. Roger Strasser.