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Dean's Leadership Team

Rajesh Dave, MD, MBA
Rajesh Dave, MD, MBA
Dean, Clinical Campus

Oversees the faculty, staff and students at Upstate's Binghamton campus. Also maintains relationships with a network of volunteer faculty and the four regional affiliate hospitals. The clinical campus at Binghamton offers third- and fourth-year medical students direct interaction with community physicians.
www.upstate.edu/com/about/campuses/bing/admin.php


Paula Trief, MD
Ann Botash, MD
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development

Faculty Affairs
Oversees the promotion and tenure process and supports faculty on their path to promotion. Helps to recruit and retain excellent and diverse faculty and chairs.

Faculty Development
Implements development programs to enhance the teaching, research, and clinical skills of the faculty. Advises the Dean on all issues relevant to the faculty.
www.upstate.edu/facultydev


Eric Smith
Eric J. Smith, CPA, MBA
Senior Associate Dean for Finance

Oversees the Norton College of Medicine and the University’s finance, accounting and budgeting functions, shared business services (payroll, contracts/campus purchasing, accounts payable, property management), and post-award sponsored programs. Also serves as the Deputy Operations Manager for the Research Foundation for SUNY at Upstate and in leadership roles for various affiliates, including the Faculty-Student Association, Upstate Properties Development, and the Upstate Foundation.


MaryGrace VanNortwick
MaryGrace VanNortwick
Chief of Staff

Advises the Dean in a broad range of areas and works with leadership to move the Dean's agenda forward. This involves managing and monitoring information flow to the Dean and assisting the office to efficiently respond to everyday demands and to keep special projects on task. The Chief of Staff oversees finance and space, program details and communication regarding projects and requests. The role involves taking on analysis and planning for new initiatives, tracking outcomes, and implementing decisions that require an intricate understanding on the business entities involved.
www.upstate.edu/capitalprojects/


Rick Gardner
Richard Gardner
Senior Associate Dean for Resource Management

Advises the Dean and the Chief of Staff on matters relating to the finances of the Norton College of Medicine and space issues throughout the campus. This includes monitoring and analysis of College finances, to include State, research, practice and other revenues; recommending policies regarding finances; working directly with departmental leadership to evaluate business activity of the departments; and monitoring systems that account for use of space.


Leann Lesperance, MD
Leann Lesperance, MD, PhD
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education

Oversees all undergraduate medical education activities with an emphasis on medical science inquiry, compassionate care, research opportunities, community engagement, and social justice. Assures that educational program is compliant with all accreditation standards. Manages educational office staff and budget and responsible for delivery of curriculum and student assessment. Interfaces with Dean of Student Affairs to provide integrated student advising and mentoring.


Danielle Katz, MD
Danielle Katz, MD
Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education

Oversees the residency and fellowship programs for Upstate. Responsible for assuring programs are in full compliance with all accreditation requirements, responsible for overseeing international residents' visa requirements, provides training verification of all former residents and fellows, monitors graduate medical education budgets, monitors the electronic resident information system for recording resident experiences and related issues including work hour compliance, provides guidance and assistance to residency program directors in program implementation.
Graduate Medical Education


Dimitra Bourboulia, PhD
Dimitra Bourboulia, PhD
Assistant Dean for UME and GME Research
Director, Office of Research for Medicine Students

The Office of Research for Medical Students serves as a single point of contact for Medical Students, provides them with information about internal and external research opportunities, facilitates students to identify basic, clinical and translational research projects, to connect with mentors and to apply to specific funding sources.


Kaushal B. Nanavati
Kaushal Nanavati, MD
Assistant Dean of Wellness

Oversees wellness programs for COM learners including students and residents. Collaborates with UH Chief Wellness Officer on programs that overlap including COM faculty. Responsible for measuring effectiveness of wellness efforts and quality improvement efforts. Collaborates with UME and GME deans in embedding wellness programs into the curriculum.

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