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MU Chancellor Addresses Graduate Students and the Direction of the Medical School

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University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin discussed both the University of Missouri’s School of Medicine’s new dean and the university’s graduate students on Wednesday after speaking to students at Southern Boone Middle School in Ashland about the importance of higher education.

Loftin says despite former dean Patrice Delafontaine’s resignation and the appointment of interim dean James Stannard last week, the path the medical school is taking remains unchanged.

“The direction we have in terms of delivering the very best education training for students is maintained, giving the best medical care for Missourians and of course going forward and building a stronger research enterprise, were all three things we had in place before the last dean was hired and continue under Jim’s leadership as well,” Loftin said.  

Delafontaine served as the school’s dean for less than a year after starting in December. Loftin would not specifically say what caused Delafontaine’s resignation, but did discuss the next steps for the medical school.

“Our first step is to begin a search process for an executive vice chancellor for health affairs. So we’re going to replace that individual first, and that person will lead the search for a new medical dean,” Loftin said.

Additionally, Loftin spoke on the university’s graduate students. MU graduate students held a walkout to protest the loss of benefits at the beginning of the school year that were later reinstated.

“We’re addressing all of the concerns they’ve expressed to us directly,” Loftin said.

One of the main issues graduate students brought to the university was medical insurance for graduate students. Loftin created a graduate student insurance task force late last month to look into possible solutions. Loftin appointed Dean Kristofer Hagglund to head the committee which works alongside graduate students.

“Dr. Hagglund gave me a report just yesterday in terms of the progress of the insurance task force, which was very promising. They’re working on several options,” Loftin said.

However, according to Loftin, the university is looking into more than just insurance.

“We’re working through other issues regarding stipends, regarding tuition waivers, regarding housing and childcare, all of those things are part of a mix we are looking at right now,” Loftin said.