David Musick, assistant dean for faculty development at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, is set to become the next associate dean for faculty affairs at the school, effective July 1, as Bruce Johnson retires from the role.

Musick became assistant dean for faculty development for the medical school in 2013, overseeing professional development opportunities for the school’s more than 500 teaching faculty. He also serves as director of the Office of Continuing Professional Development for Carilion Clinic.

“Virginia Tech Carilion marries the best of two worlds – the strong academics and research of Virginia Tech with the clinical expertise of Carilion Clinic. It has been exciting to see the establishment of the medical school transform this area into an academic medical center,” Musick said. “I look forward to continuing what Bruce started, working with our faculty to continuously improve our medical education delivery.”

Prior to joining Virginia Tech Carilion, Musick worked in medical education at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine. He has also held faculty and administrative roles in physical medicine and rehabilitation and medical humanities.

“David has been at the forefront of ensuring our faculty have the resources and access to professional development opportunities to excel while training the next generation of physician thought leaders – whether teaching at class at the medical school, mentoring our students in the wards, or training resident physicians,” said Cynda Ann Johnson, founding dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. “I am thrilled he will take on this new leadership role and continue to recruit and retain our top-notch faculty members.”

Musick earned his bachelor’s degree from Milligan College, his master’s in sociology from East Tennessee State University, and his Ph.D. in educational evaluation and policy studies from the University of Kentucky.

Over the next five months, Musick will transition into the new role, shadowing Bruce Johnson until officially assuming the position on July 1.

Bruce Johnson
Bruce Johnson will retire as associate dean for faculty affairs at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, effective July 1. He will continue teaching as a faculty member for the school and seeing patients for Carilion Clinic.

Johnson came to the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in its infancy and developed the Office of Faculty Affairs. He led the formation of faculty governance and the administration of the school’s appointment, promotion, and tenure processes, while also creating the school’s faculty handbook.

“It has been rewarding at Virginia Tech Carilion to change the culture here to one of a full-fledged academic institution and have clinicians take on the role of faculty because they want to teach, be involved in scholarly activities, and want to be able to provide service to this medical school,” Johnson said. “That sense really developed after the creation of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.”

“When Bruce arrived at VTC, plans were just beginning to take shape to turn an idea of a medical school into reality,” said Dan Harrington, vice dean of the school. “He took on a critical leadership role to figure out how the school would bring faculty on board and give them the tools they needed to create the curriculum while also recruiting, teaching, and mentoring our students.”

After stepping down as associate dean, Johnson will remain a professor of medicine at the school, with involvement in teaching and curriculum development. He will also continue seeing patients through Carilion Clinic.

When Johnson first arrived at Virginia Tech Carilion, he was on the National Resident Matching Program’s Board of Directors, serving as secretary-treasurer in 2008-09, president-elect in 2009-10; and president in 2010-11.

Throughout Johnson’s career, he has held leadership roles in residency and medical education.

Prior to VTC, Johnson was at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University serving as associate chair of medicine for education, division chief, and a clerkship director. Prior to that, Johnson was at the University of Iowa College of Medicine as a fellowship and clerkship director. At the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Johnson held such roles as division, residency, and clerkship director.

Johnson said that coming to the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine with the opportunity to help start a new school has been the pinnacle of his career .

Johnson received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and medical doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He did residencies in obstetrics and gynecology and internal medicine and a fellowship in general internal medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

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