The founding dean and CEO of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) said the decision to step away from this role was “a mutual agreement” between himself and the school, acknowledging “it's time for change.”
“It's a good time for change,” Dr. Roger Strasser said. “(NOSM) been through the start-up phase and have now become well established.”
Strasser, who came to Canada from Australia to lead NOSM through its creation, and also stayed on through its opening in 2005 and first years of operation, will no longer head up the school as of June 30, 2019.
“When I started in 2002, there was no Northern Ontario School of Medicine,” said Strasser.
“I've been there since the very beginning as the founding dean and CEO. My first contract was for seven years, then I was renewed for a five-year contract and my third contract for a further five years comes up at the end of June 2019.
“So it's a planned completion of my third term.”
NOSM recently made the news after one of its residents, Dr. Ana Safavi, alleged she was sexually harassed by a faculty leader in her training program.
Strasser said his impending role change is “completely unconnected” to Safavi's allegations. “And I can't comment on that recent story in the media,” he said.
While he won't lead NOSM as of next year, Strasser said he'll remain a faculty member with the medical school.
“I have leave, and I'll be on leave for awhile, but continue as a faculty member of the school,” he said.
“I certainly have research activities and other activities with the school that I expect to continue to be involved in after I complete my term as dean and CEO.”
Of his achievements during his time as dean, Strasser said he's most proud of NOSM's role in improving access to health care in Northern Ontario.
“We did a study of eight rural and remote communities in the north,” he said. “Before NOSM, they had 30 FTE (full-time equivalent) vacancies. Now they have one between them. I take pride, really, in the fact that people in Northern Ontario have access to health care that just wasn't there before the school.”
Meanwhile, NOSM's board of directors has established a search committee and hired the executive search firm Boyden to find Strasser's replacement.
The gig would presumably be a good one, too, as Strasser has routinely been one of Greater Sudbury's highest-paid public servants.
According to information put out through the “Sunshine List” (Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act), Strasser earned $358,585 in 2016. His 2017 earnings will be revealed about a month from now.
“They're in the early stages at the moment and asking for input from anyone who would like to give their ideas about the characteristics and qualities of the next dean and CEO for the school,” Strasser said.
Later in March, the school will move to a public search with advertisements for candidates beginning to roll out. The search is expected to last until the fall of 2018 when Strasser's replacement is chosen. That person would take over as dean and CEO of NOSM in July, 2019.
“I'm sure there would be a preference for a Northern Ontario applicant, but I expect they'd be looking across Canada and around the world.”
If you're interested in providing input to NOSM on its new dean and CEO, email your comments to [email protected].
