Valerie Williams, PhD, OK UCEDD Director, Named Chair-Elect of Association of American Medical Colleges

August 4, 2011

  http://www.ouhsc.edu/news/templates/?a=460&z=36

Valerie Williams, PhD, vice provost for academic affairs and faculty development at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Learning and Leadership (OK UCEDD), has been named chair-elect of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Williams, who has served on AAMC's board of directors for the past three years, will serve as chair in 2013.

The AAMC serves and leads the academic medicine community to improve the health of all, and represents all 134 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; approximately 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 62 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and nearly 90 academic and scientific societies.

"Dr. Williams has made very significant contributions to the progress of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center," said Oklahoma University President David L. Boren. "Her election to this prominent position of national leadership demonstrates the great respect which her peers across the entire country have for her."

In her current capacity, Williams sponsors and guides faculty development and teaches in Library and Information Management, Family Medicine and Public Health. She also has remained active as a principal investigator, and during the past 10 years has served as PI or sponsor for more than $18 million in competitively awarded grants and contracts.

Since coming to the OU Health Sciences Center in 1989, Williams has served in a variety of faculty development and leadership posts, including as interim associate dean for academic programs in the OU College of Nursing.

Williams came to OU from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, where she served as assistant to the president and director of Interdisciplinary Programs. Prior to that, she worked on the policy staff for the assistant secretary for health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Williams is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the AAMC Silver Achievement Award in 2001, presented on the 25th anniversary of the Women in Medicine Program, "honoring women and men who have contributed substantially to the development of women in academic medicine."

She earned her bachelor of science degree in biology and psychology with a minor in English and her master's degree in public administration, both from Syracuse University, and her doctoral degree in allied health sciences from the OU Health Sciences Center.

 

Dr. Williams served on the AUCD Board of Directors, most notably as President in 1995-1996.