McFarlane named interim dean of medical school

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 9:22 a.m.

Dr. Stephen McFarlane, a 27-year faculty member, has been appointed interim dean of the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

McFarlane will begin a two-year term as interim dean Oct. 1, replacing Dr. Robert Miller, who resigned in August after two years as dean.

The medical school is in the midst of a strategic planning initiative designed to ensure the program's financial stability.

There also are plans to build an academic medical center as part of a 61-acre development in downtown Las Vegas. Miller has said he would continue to work with Mayor Oscar Goodman on the proposal.

"There are very important issues in our statewide school that need to be addressed immediately," McFarlane said. "I am delighted to serve in this capacity."

A national search will be launched for a permanent replacement, John Lilley, president of the University of Nevada, Reno, said.

McFarlane has been chairman of the speech pathology and audiology department since 1977. He served as interim president of the university for the first six months of this year and has been vice dean of the medical school since July 1.

He also served as associate dean of academic affairs for the medical school from 1990 through 1994 and was vice dean from 1995 to 1996.