Campbell Announces Osteopathic Medical School’s Founding Dean

January 6, 2011 | 8 Comments

Buies Creek -- John M. Kauffman Jr. D.O. has been named the Founding Dean of Campbell University’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine. His selection follows a national search which attracted candidates from throughout the United States.  Dr. Kauffman assumed his responsibilities on January 3, 2011.  Kauffman was formally appointed Thursday, Jan. 6 at Campbell’s Butler Chapel.

A medical educator for the past 17 years, Dr. Kaufmann obtained his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  He completed his undergraduate education at Allegheny College.  Dr. Kauffman is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Osteopathic Internists.

From 2001-2006, Dr. Kauffman worked for University Hospitals of Cleveland and established University based osteopathic residencies in Dermatology and Pediatrics. In 2006, he joined the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine as the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs and was promoted to Vice Dean for Postgraduate Affairs over the Virginia and South Carolina campuses in 2010.  During Dr. Kauffman’s time at VCOM, the number of residency positions grew from 40 to 280 positions in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Dermatology and Neurosurgery.

Campbell University President, Dr. Jerry M. Wallace, praised the selection committee for their success in bringing several qualified candidates to be considered to fill the dean's post:  "Dr. John Kauffman is uniquely qualified to lead the university in establishing the first osteopathic medical school in North Carolina.  Our success in establishing the nationally recognized College of Pharmacy has opened doors of opportunity for the medical school. Campbell's medical school will be committed to educating primary care physicians."

Dr. Kauffman and his wife, Sharon, have four daughters. They are looking forward to joining the Campbell family and making North Carolina their home.

The proposed medical school will seek accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of Osteopathic Accreditation with an anticipated opening date of August 2013.  Architectural and engineering planning is already underway for a proposed 85,000 square foot facility.  The possibility of opening a College of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell has been under active consideration for almost a year.  A decision is expected no later thanMay 2011. 

Osteopathic Physicians are licensed to practice medicine in all fifty states of the United States with all the privileges and responsibilities of medical doctors.  More than eight hundred osteopathic physicians currently practice medicine in North Carolina.Colleges of osteopathic medicine are located in Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and at the following national universities:  Michigan State, University of Ohio, and Oklahoma State. Currently, 80 North Carolina residents are enrolled in various osteopathic medical schools located throughout the United States.

Reasons cited for the feasibility study include the increasing shortage of primary care physicians in North Carolina, population growth in North Carolina and bordering states, an increase in the aging population, and the national health-care reform.  According to the 2009 North Carolina Institute of Medicine Study, North Carolina has approximately 7,660 Primary Care Physicians or 8.8 per 10,000 population, which is below the national average of 9.43 per 10,000 population; medical school graduates choosing Primary Care have dropped 50% between 1997 and 2005; North Carolina is projected to experience a 12% decline in per capita physician supply by 2020 and a 26% decline by 2030; North Carolina’s population is expected to increase by 17.6% between July 2007 and July 2020 and another 11.7% by 2030; the growth and aging of North Carolina’s population  is expected to increase demand  (measured by annual visits to physicians) by 34% between 2004 and 2020; and persons 65 and older will increase by 33.7% between July 2007 and July 2020.

CampbellUniversity began addressing health care issues in 1985 with the establishment of the nationally acclaimed School of Pharmacy, which was the first new pharmacy school founded in the United States in more than 35 years.  In addition to offering the Doctor of Pharmacy program, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Clinical Research and Pharmaceutical Sciences.  In 2009, the name was formally changed from the School of Pharmacy to the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences to provide additional health science programs, including the newly established Physician Assistant program, slated to enroll its first class in Fall 2011.

Photo Copy:  John M. Kauffman, Jr., D.O. speaks at the appointment celebration at Campbell’s Butler Chapel on Thursday, Jan. 6.

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