News

Our New Dean for Medical Education

Dr. Halina Brukner has been serving as the interim Dean for Medical Education of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine since July 1, 2018. She has distinguished herself during this time. For this reason, I am delighted to announce that she has agreed to be the Dean for Medical Education.

Dr. Brukner is an extremely experienced and accomplished member of our faculty, and she has held a host of leadership positions both within the medical school as well as the Department of Medicine since joining our institution in 1985. Dr. Brukner completed her medical school education at New York University School of Medicine and her residency in internal medicine at the University of Chicago. In 1986, she was appointed as the clerkship director of medicine, a position she held for 13 years. In this role, Dr. Brukner developed innovative programs in improving skills to give effective feedback and has been recognized for her innovations by the Society of General Internal Medicine.

In 2004, she took on the role of the Associate Dean for Medical School Education where she guided the implementation of a new curriculum — The Pritzker Initiative for the 21st Century. As Associate Dean, Dr. Brukner oversaw all aspects of curricular and academic issues in the medical school. She also served as the founding Director of the Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators, implemented in 2005, to support and promote research, innovation, and scholarship in medical education at the University of Chicago. Dr. Brukner has not only contributed to the University of Chicago through her educational leadership, but through her role as Director of the University of Chicago Primary Care Group (1995-1999), Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine (1999-2004), and more recently as Co-Chair of the Committee on Appointments and Promotions (2014-2018).

As Dean for Medical Education, Dr. Brukner will oversee the continuum of medical education, including the Pritzker School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Education, Continuing Medical Education and Medical Simulation. She will oversee the process of reaccreditation of the Medical School by the LCME coming up in the fall of 2020.  Given her extensive track record of leadership and contributions to the University of Chicago throughout her long and distinguished career, we are confident that she will provide the effective direction and oversight needed to support and sustain our students, residents, and trainees, and we are grateful for her willingness to take on this responsibility on behalf of the University of Chicago.