Please Welcome Dr. Douglas Wood, Chief Academic Officer and Founding Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at CHSU!

Please join me in welcoming, Douglas Wood, DO, PhD, FACOI, on his first day on campus at CHSU! Dr. Wood is serving as the Chief Academic Officer and Founding Dean of our planned College of Osteopathic Medicine at California Health Sciences University (CHSU).
Dr. Wood comes to CHSU from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he served as Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean.
He was previously appointed Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at A.T. Still University, where he first served as Founding Dean of the A.T. Still School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. Prior to that he served as Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University in East Lansing, then Lead Dean for their Neuroscience Program and subsequently their W.K. Kellogg Community/University Partnership program.
He has over 50 years of medical and professional experience, much of which has been spent working in academic leadership.
“Dr. Wood is one of the most respected and experienced leaders in Osteopathic Medical education with a focus on leading innovation in health care and education,” says Florence Dunn, President at CHSU. “He shares our vision for training physicians with a focus on family medicine and primary care with a desire to serve the Central Valley, especially those in rural and underserved areas.”
Dr. Wood is also principal investigator for an Inter-Professional Education project entitled, From Campus Curriculum to Rural Community Health Centers: A Statewide Model of Osteopathic Inter-Professional Education, funded by the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation.
In 2011, Dr. Wood was named a “Great Pioneer in Osteopathic Medicine” by the American Osteopathic Association and was awarded the Walter F. Patenge Medal for Public Service by the Michigan State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has also been honored a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and recognized as one of Michigan’s Five Outstanding Nephrologists by the Michigan Kidney Foundation.
Dr. Wood also served as President for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine from 1995-2005.
His dedication to educating physicians and passion for serving patients, especially those in rural and underserved communities, will help CHSU achieve our mission to improve the health care outcomes of people living in the Central Valley, stated Dunn.
Dr. Wood received his PhD in Educational Evaluation and Research in Medical Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and has held certifications in Nephrology and Internal Medicine from the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine. He received his Doctor of Osteopathy from Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri, and his Bachelor of Science at the University of Michigan.
“I am excited for the opportunity to launch another new College of Osteopathic Medicine, especially in a region that desperately needs primary care physicians,” Wood said. “CHSU’s mission and the great need for more equitable and improved access to health care inspires me to lead this extraordinary initiative. I look forward to working with our community partners and recruiting a stellar team of administrators and faculty to help recruit and retain local students to our top-tier medical program.”
Dr. Wood was selected from a pool of highly-qualified candidates during a national search, which began last year.
Please join me in providing a warm welcome to Dr. Wood and his wife as they join our community and university!
Sincerely,

Florence T. Dunn
President, California Health Sciences University