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Feature: Disappearing Act? - Hardly

In September 2011, Jack Brose, D.O., announced that he would become Ohio
University’s first Vice Provost for Health Affairs, ending more than ten years of
leadership and advocacy as dean of OU-HCOM. The $105 million gift from the
Osteopathic Heritage Foundations (see story, page 16) might look like a career
high point to many, but in a way the gift acknowledges a decade of college
growth and achievement, a decade over which Dr. Brose presided.

Dr. Brose’s tenure as dean will be remembered for a dramatic expansion of
the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education from 12 to 27 hospitals,
class size increases that garnered commendations from the AOA Commission
on Osteopathic College Accreditation, the transformation of education spaces
including the new Heritage Clinical Training and Assessment Center, and the
construction of the $34.5 million Osteopathic Heritage Foundations and Charles
R. and Marilyn Y. Stuckey Academic & Research Center (ARC). And partnering
with OhioHealth and Cleveland Clinic, he was the catalyst for the new
campuses, one in central Ohio and the other in northeastern Ohio.

There were other important initiatives he helped the college navigate, such
as privatizing the college’s faculty practice plan, implementing two innovative
curricular tracks and assuming responsibility for Ohio University’s student health
services. Dr. Brose served as the chairman of the Ohio Council of Medical School
Deans and even served an unprecedented second term at the request of the six
other deans because of his effective advocacy on behalf of medical education in
the Ohio General Assembly.  

 There were a number of priorities, though, that pointed to more personal interests. Despite the demands of being dean, Dr. Brose regularly facilitated a Patient-Centered continuum student case discussion group. His 26 OU-HCOM Outstanding Instructor Awards document his acumen for teaching and persistent popularity among students.

Community health and prosperity also held a particular significance for Dr. Brose. College services for those who lack adequate health care alternatives underwent a massive expansion under Dr. Brose, especially after he founded the Free Clinic in 2005. A primary care physician, he regularly made time to treat patients in the Free Clinic (now called the Heritage Community Clinic).

Research gained new prominence during Dr. Brose’s tenure. As assistant dean for clinical research, he founded the Ohio Research and Clinical Review, a publication intended to increase research exposure and foster interest among students, faculty, alumni and preceptors. It was discontinued in 2008 when it became clear that need for a journal had diminished as faculty and students increasingly published their findings in more major journals. As college research programs grew, Dr. Brose helped finalize the building of the Life Sciences Research Facility, and later, initiated the construction of the ARC.

Countless graduates have their own favorite memories of Dr. Brose as a faculty member and dean. Many of us won’t soon forget the dancing mice, dinosaurs in party hats with birthday cakes, tumbling hedgehogs and the “OU-HCOM Maui” campus featured in his “State of the College” PowerPoint presentations. Before he became swept up in vice provost initiatives this summer, we sat down with Dr. Brose to talk to him about his time as dean.

Q&A with Dr. Brose