Francis Named as Campus Associate Dean for Student & Multicultural Affairs

John S. Francis, MD, PhD, has been named Campus Associate Dean for Student and Multicultural Affairs at the AU/UGA Medical Partnership.

Prior to accepting his position at the Medical Partnership, Dr. Francis served as a Medical Student Academic Advisor in the Office of Student Affairs at the Yale University School of Medicine for five years.  In addition, Dr. Francis was Chief of Infection Control at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, and an Assistant Professor in the section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine at Yale University.

As Campus Associate Dean for Student and Multicultural Affairs, Dr. Francis is responsible for coordinating a wide variety of student activities in and around the AU/UGA Medical Partnership campus, including career advising, developing academic programs to educate medical students and promote diversity and cultural awareness among the student body and faculty, and overseeing events such as orientation and Match Day. He will work with the Medical College of Georgia Admissions Committee to assist with the development of strategies to recruit and retain students that reflect the diversity of Georgia. He’ll also work closely with leadership at MCG’s main campus in Augusta on significant student events including the White Coat ceremony and Hooding. Dr. Francis also will work collaboratively with the Office of Student and Multicultural Affairs and the Student Promotions Committee and subcommittees at MCG and the University of Georgia Office of Student Affairs.

“Dr. Francis brings terrific, additional academic and clinical experience to the Partnership campus,” said Dr. Peter F. Buckley, MCG Dean. “He will be a great asset as Georgia’s public medical school continues to build an always stronger student body that more closely reflects the population of our state.”

“The Medical Partnership offers a unique learning environment that Dr. Francis will enhance through his unwavering focus on student success,” said Pamela Whitten, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “He joins an outstanding team of faculty and administrators who are committed to excellence in medical education.”

“Dr. Francis’ dedication to students and student success was evident from the first time he visited Athens, and I am pleased that he has joined the Medical Partnership senior leadership team,” said Barbara L. Schuster, Campus Dean of the AU/UGA Medical Partnership.  “Since his arrival in December, Dr. Francis has already arranged multiple individual student meetings and fully engaged with campus activities, demonstrating his commitment to each and every medical student in Athens.”

Dr. Francis received his Bachelor of Science in Zoology-Biomedical from Andrews University in 1991.  He received his PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in 1998 and his MD in 2000 from Loma Linda University School of Medicine.  He completed his residency in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 2003, then served as an infectious disease fellow at the Johns Hopkins Hospital until 2006 after which he returned to join the faculty at Yale.

“With 160 students, I have the opportunity to get to know each and every one of them personally, which was a very compelling reason to join the AU/UGA Medical Partnership team,” said Dr. Francis.  “As a relatively young medical school program, there are many opportunities to nurture, support, and guide our students in addition to developing and implementing programs that will enhance student achievement for many years to come.  I am honored to be a part of this innovative and historic campus that dates back to the days of Abraham Baldwin and Josiah Meigs.”