About OUWB

Oakland University (Oakland) and Beaumont Health (Beaumont) were founded at approximately the same time, half a century ago, in close proximity to each other and in a region of greater Detroit.

Oakland University and Beaumont Health - Now Corewell Health

Today, Oakland is one of 15 public universities in Michigan. Oakland has an enrollment of nearly 20,000 students, and a Carnegie classification of doctoral/research university-intensive.

Beaumont is now Corewell Health. OUWB medical students train at three Corewell Health hospitals: Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital, Troy and Corewell Health Grosse Pointe Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe.

The partnership 

Following exploratory discussions, including discussions with community leaders, Oakland and Beaumont concluded that the combined faculty, staff and infrastructure resources of their institutions would provide a remarkably strong base on which to build a new medical school.

In January 2007, Oakland and Beaumont submitted a letter of intent to the LCME to initiate the formal process of accrediting a new allopathic medical school. The initiative to fund a new medical school was approved by both the Beaumont Hospital Board of Directors and the Oakland University Board of Trustees on July 31, 2008.

On February 25, 2020, OUWB was granted full accreditation by the LCME for maximum eight-year term.

In March 2021, Oakland University and William Beaumont Hospitals extended their affiliation agreement through 2041. 

On February 25, 2020 the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine was granted full accreditation for the maximum eight-year term. 

On February 10, 2015, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine was granted full accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). 

Why is LCME accreditation important?

Accreditation signifies that national standards for structure, function, and performance are met by a medical school's education program leading to the M.D. degree. LCME accreditation is required for schools to receive federal grants for medical education and to participate in federal loan programs. Students and graduates of LCME-accredited medical schools are eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). These graduates also have eligibility to enter residencies approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Graduating from an LCME-accredited U.S. school and passing the national licensing examinations are accepted as prerequisites for medical licensure in most states (Source: LCME).

NCA Accreditation

Oakland University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities. The university requested a focused visit on OUWB which was conducted in January 2010.

Oakland University

Located on a picturesque 1,441 acre campus of wooded hills and rolling meadows in Southeastern Michigan, Oakland University is a doctoral/research intensive university.

At the center of main campus, OUWB enjoys close access to the Kresge Library, the Hannah Hall of Science Anatomy Lab, the Oakland Center (student union) and the Recreation Center.

The school, located in O'Dowd Hall, features a medical student lounge and locker facilities, and technologically advanced breakout rooms – all designed to complement our innovative curriculum and in close proximity to medical student services. 

The surrounding community offers world-class entertainment, cultural, and social opportunities.

Mission

To develop compassionate physicians who are dedicated to improving the health of their communities, collaboration, and lifelong learning. 

Christopher Carpenter, M.D., MHSA
Stephan Sharf Dean
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Professor, Internal Medicine

Effective July 15, 2024, Dr. Carpenter is the third permanent dean of OUWB. He served as Stephan Sharf Interim Dean from September 2023 - July 2024.

Prior to that, he served as the Michael E. Maddens M.D. Distinguished Chair and Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, Mich., and Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. In this, and in his other hospital and system roles, he led and represented more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers in the provision of clinical care, the pursuit of innovative research, and the education and mentorship of future physicians and other health care providers.

Dr. Carpenter’s clinical subspecialty is in the field of infectious diseases, providing care for patients in both ambulatory and inpatient settings. He is active in teaching and mentoring medical students, internal medicine residents and infectious diseases fellows in a variety of settings. His recent research endeavors include leading a COVID-19 vaccine study at WBUH and performing health care cost-effectiveness analyses of zoster vaccination. He has served on state and national committees, including the Food and Drug Administration Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee and the FDA Medical Devices Panel. Dr. Carpenter approaches his clinical, academic and leadership roles with a focus on service and collaboration, treating both his patients and colleagues as individuals and striving to facilitate achievement of their health, personal and professional goals.

Background

In addition to patient care, Dr. Carpenter initially focused on antimicrobial stewardship after joining WBUH more than 20 years ago, serving as Director of WBUH’s Antibiotic Stewardship Program for 15 years. He directed the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program for ten years and served as Section Head of Infectious Diseases for five years prior to assuming his current role as Chief and Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in 2019. In 2022, after the merger of Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health, Dr. Carpenter was appointed to the Corewell Health Board.

Education

Dr. Carpenter earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering and his Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Michigan. He subsequently completed internal medicine residency at Duke University followed by infectious diseases fellowship at Johns Hopkins University before joining WBUH in 2000. Dr. Carpenter also earned his Master of Health Services Administration degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 2017.

Affiliations and Awards

Dr. Carpenter has received recognition from his colleagues as an Hour Detroit Top Doctor (including being a member of the Top Doctor Hall of Fame), America’s Top Physicians and Best Doctors in America. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and he has served for the Michigan Infectious Disease Society. Dr. Carpenter also participates in and supports the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, including the Association of Professors of Medicine.

Tonya Bailey, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Community Engagement
Assistant Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

As associate dean for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Community Engagement, Tonya Bailey, Ph.D., provides strategic direction for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education and activities within OUWB. She also serves as the lead strategist for community engagement and initiatives, and oversees the Compass and Diversity and Inclusion offices. In addition to her associate dean role, Dr. Bailey serves an assistant professor within OUWB’s Department of Foundational Medical Studies.

Her professional background consists of more than 25 years in higher education. Prior to arriving at OUWB, she held various leadership roles including chief diversity officer at Lansing Community College, director of Student Success at Michigan State University, and director of college level and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programming at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Bailey, a native of Flint, Michigan, is a graduate of the University of Evansville, Indiana, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mass communication.  She earned a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School in Ann Arbor, and completed her doctorate in educational leadership at Central Michigan University. Dr. Bailey also is a Certified Diversity Executive.

Berkley Browne-Holtz, Ph.D., CWP
Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Career Development
Assistant Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

As associate dean for Student Affairs and Career Development, Dr. Browne-Holtz provides leadership and oversight of OUWB's student support programs and services, signature student events, and student organizations in support of the school's efforts to incorporate best practices student wellness, residency match preparation, and professional identity development. 

In addition to overseeing the career development, academic success, and student wellness and well-being programs, Dr. Browne-Holtz also serves as an adviser for medical students, M1 through M4 years. 

Her professional background includes more than 15 years of student affairs and student support services experience at the secondary, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Dr. Browne-Holtz joined OUWB in 2014 as the director of Academic Success. Her most recent positions were assistant dean and interim associate dean for Student Affairs.

Dr. Browne-Holtz is an alumna of Albion College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science. She earned her master’s in clinical counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary and earned a doctorate in higher education leadership from Oakland University. Her doctoral research, which explored student wellness and wellbeing issues in medical education, was named the Most Outstanding Dissertation (non-STEM category) by Oakland University in 2020. 

Stephen Collard, CMA
Vice Dean for Business and Administration

Stephen Collard, CMA, is the vice dean for Business and Administration. Prior to this role he served in many leadership positions during his 33-year career at Beaumont Health, where he was vice president of Finance, assistant hospital director and controller.

He most recently served as the finance lead for Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education. He is a graduate of Oakland University (B.S. Finance), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and past-president of the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s Eastern Michigan Chapter.

Francisco Davila, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Medical Education, M4
Associate Professor, Internal Medicine

Francisco Dávila Grijalva, M.D., MHPE, is the assistant dean for Medical Education, M4 year. He is an associate professor of Internal Medicine. He earned his M.D. degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. He came to the United States for residency training at Beaumont - Royal Oak and then served for a year as chief resident. He then joined the Department of Internal Medicine teaching faculty, currently working in the inpatient hospitalist service. He has also earned a Master’s degree on Health Professions Education from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Davila is involved in graduate medical education as the transitional year residency program director since 2014. In his previous role in undergraduate medical education he was the internal medicine sub-internship clerkship director for seven years.

He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and was recognized with the ACP Michigan Chapter Governor's Award for his active contributions to the chapter as reviewer, judge and facilitator.

He is passionate about medical education and has actively sought further training in this area. He is a trained facilitator of the Stanford curriculum for medical teachers and has delivered the seminar to many faculty and residents within and outside the institution. Other courses in which he has participated are the AAMC Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) certificate program, Harvard Medical School Train to Teach in Medicine certificate program, Harvard Macy Institute Program for Educators in Health Professions and Leading Innovations in Health Care and Education.

Janine DeWitte, M.Ed., PHR
Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

Janine DeWitte, M.Ed., PHR, is the assistant dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development. She provides senior leadership, strategic support and the management of all areas of faculty affairs and professional development. Janine is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and evaluation procedures for all medical school faculty members. She provides faculty human resources administration for OUWB, including conflict resolution and mediation, national recruitment, continuous hiring, orientation, evaluation and training.

Janine joined OUWB in August 2015 as manager of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development. Prior to working in the School of Medicine, she worked for eight years in the Department of Academic Human Resources for Oakland University. Janine earned her Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership degree from Oakland University.

Vonda K. Douglas-Nikitin, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion
Associate Professor, Pathology

Vonda K. Douglas-Nikitin, M.D., is an assistant dean for Diversity and Inclusion and associate professor of Pathology. Dr. Douglas-Nikitin has served as the medical director of the Flow Cytometry Laboratory since she joined Beaumont Hospital in 2004. She is also the Program Director for the Hematopathology Fellowship and co-chair of the Beaumont Graduate Medical Education Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council.  Dr. Douglas-Nikitin served as the founding Assistant Dean for D & I at the inception of the OUWB from 2010-2015, and she accepted a reappointment as Assistant Dean for D & I in July 2021 with the goal of further developing diversity, equity and inclusion resources and support for medical students, resident and fellows on the Beaumont campuses. 

Dr. Douglas-Nikitin received her undergraduate training at Johns Hopkins University and Andrews University. She received her M.D. degree from the University of Michigan, where she also completed a residency in anatomic and clinical pathology. She is subspecialized in hematopathologist having completed her fellowship training at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. 

Prior to her positions at OUWB and Beaumont Hospital, Dr. Douglas-Nikitin was at the University of Florida where she served as assistant dean for Minority Affairs and assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Barbara Ducatman, M.D.
Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
Professor, Pathology

Barbara S. Ducatman, M.D., is the associate dean of Clinical Affairs for OUWB and the chief medical officer for Corewell Health's William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak. She joined OUWB and Beaumont (now Corewell Health) on July 31, 2017 as professor and chair of Pathology. Dr. Ducatman comes to us from West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine where she was professor and chair of Pathology, the founding associate dean for Faculty Services, and the founding director of the WVU National Center of Excellence in Women's Health.

Dr. Ducatman received her M.D. degree from the Albany Medical College and completed a residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the Mayo Clinic. She is subspecialty-trained in cytopathology and is recognized as a national expert in this discipline. She has served at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard) and has also served in the U.S. Navy.

Dr. Ducatman has assumed leadership positions in academic pathology. She currently serves on the Executive Advisory Board of the Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the highest circulation major peer-reviewed publication in the field, and is an associate editor of Academic Pathology. She is also president-elect of the Association of Pathology Chairs. Dr. Ducatman is widely published and is recognized as an outstanding pathology educator.

Mohammad Jafri, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Career Advisor Programming and Student Advising
Associate Professor, Urology

Dr. Mohammad Jafri is the assistant dean for Career Advisor Programming and Student Advising. In his role, he works closely with M3 and M4 students to prepare them for the residency application process as well as working with OUWB specialty advisors to ensure they have the tools and resources necessary to support students’ residency match goals. Dr. Jafri also serves on the OUWB faculty as the clinical course director for the Renal/Genitourinary organ system course during the M2 year. He has been practicing as a urologist at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak campus since 2012 and is one of the lead clinicians serving the Department of Urology Residency Program. His clinical interests focus mainly on urologic oncology as well as men’s health.

Dr. Jafri is an alumnus from the University of Michigan where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He completed his medical school education at Emory University and did his residency training at the Emory University Department of Urology.

Pradeep Kaminoulu, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Medical Education, M3
Associate Professor, Internal Medicine

Pradeep Kaminoulu, M.D., is the assistant dean for Medical Education, M3. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He received his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean and completed his internal medicine residency with an additional chief residency year at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak (now Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital).

Dr. Kaminoulu previously served as a clerkship director of OUWB’s Internal Medicine clerkship. He currently serves as a hospitalist and core faculty member for the internal medicine residency program at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak,(now Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital). He also has a strong interest in the fields of patient safety and quality improvement and is responsible for incorporating them into the curriculum and education within the internal medicine residency program.

Richard Kennedy, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research
Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Richard Kennedy, Ph.D., associate dean for Research and professor of Foundational Medical Studies, also serves as vice president and director of the Beaumont Research Institute. Before joining OUWB, Dr. Kennedy served as vice provost of Research and Graduate Programs at Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division. Prior to working at Loyola, he held academic and leadership positions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Dr. Kennedy received a B.S. in pharmacy from St. Louis College of Pharmacy and his Ph.D. from University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1981 before doing postdoctoral training at Michigan State University. His research in cardiovascular pharmacology and pathophysiology has resulted in more than 105 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has been funded by a variety of agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Recently, he has focused his research efforts on development of the Chicago Area Patient Centered Outcomes Research Network (CAPriCORN), a clinical data research network funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

Abhinav Krishnan, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Medical School Admissions and Enrollment Management
Assistant Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Abhinav Krishnan, Ph.D., MPH, is the associate dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management.Prior to OUWB, he was responsible for enrollment management and admissions as the associate director at Wayne State University School of Medicine where he also gained experience working as a research manager for NIH and private pharma-funded clinical and translational studies.

Dr. Krishnan has a master’s and Ph.D. degree in physiology along with a master’s in public health from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He has been involved in medical research and medical education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research interest focuses on neural control of cardiovascular function during exercise and its impact on public health as it relates to underserved populations.

Additionally, Dr. Krishnan currently serves on the diversity and inclusion committee for the American Physiological Society, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Trinity Health, and has served on national committees and workgroups for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) as a national ambassador for the Center for Health Justice, Promising Practices in Admissions & Holistic Review, and PREview.

Dr. Krishnan, a southeast Michigan native, also volunteers his time in various leadership roles for community service organizations such as Hype Athletics, Veterans Affairs Hospital, and MatchLighters.

Pierre A. Morris, M.D.
Associate Dean for Clinical Education
Associate Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Pierre Morris, M.D., joined OUWB in October 2021. He came from Wayne State University School of Medicine, where he most recently held the rank of clinical associate professor. His affiliation with WSU School of Medicine began with his residency training in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences. Following residency training, he joined this department as residency faculty, and five years later, became the founding program director for the Wayne State University School of Medicine Transitional Year Residency Program, a position he held for 13 years.

For the past 10 years, Dr. Morris has simultaneously held the aforementioned director position as well as the director of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences Residency Program. He is the recipient of three medical student teaching awards, and has been awarded six excellence in resident teaching awards.

Throughout his 17-year tenure at WSU School of Medicine, Dr. Morris has conducted clinical research, published papers in peer reviewed journals, and taught both medical students and residents in a variety of clinical settings.

Dr. Morris is a native of St. Louis, who has lived in Michigan for nearly 25 years.

He received his bachelor’s degrees in psychology and biology from Washington University in St. Louis. His first professional job was a high school biology teacher. After 12 years, he left teaching to attend medical school at Ross University School of Medicine and pursue a career as a physician.

Deirdre G. Reddix, Ph.D., SCP-IPMA
Associate Dean for Faculty & Staff Affairs and Professional Development
Assistant Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Deirdre G. Reddix, Ph.D., is the associate dean for Faculty & Staff Affairs and Professional Development. She is also an assistant professor of Foundational Medical Studies. Her professional background includes more than 30 years of human resources and labor relations experience in the areas of retail management, health care administration, municipal government and higher education. Dr. Reddix joined Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in 2011 as the founding director of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development.

Dr. Reddix provides leadership in the expanding areas of Faculty and Academic Affairs and supports the school's efforts to incorporate best practices in faculty governance, recruitment, search committee training, faculty orientation, mentorship programs, faculty outcomes research and evaluation. She plays a major role in the implementation of several goals and recommendations contained in the school's strategic plan and provides support to more than 1,400 faculty members.

Dr. Reddix earned a BSBA from Central Michigan University, a master's in Organizational Management from Spring Arbor University, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Oakland University.

Robin Rivest, Ed.D.
Assistant Dean for Medical Education

Robin Rivest, Ed.D. is the assistant dean for Medical Education at OUWB. She provides senior leadership, strategic support, and management of the overall effectiveness of medical education instruction across the OUWB curriculum. Dr. Rivest is responsible for developing curricular reports, overseeing the delivery of high-quality assessments, and analyzing programmatic evaluation data to ensure the continuous quality improvement of the educational program.

Dr. Rivest previously served in the role of director of Curriculum Data Management for OUWB and was an eLearning training & development manager in the corporate sector. She has her Master of Education with a major in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University, a Master of Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University, and a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Oakland University.

Jennifer Root, Ed.D.
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs & Career Development 

Jennifer Root, Ed.D. is the assistant dean for Student Affairs. As assistant dean, Dr. Root supports the associate dean in executing the overall mission and vision of the Office of Student Affairs by providing leadership and strategic support for all student affairs matters including career advising, academic support, student wellness programming, and large-scale events.

Dr. Root’s professional background includes over 10 years of student support ranging from career counseling, academic advising, and wellness support at the undergrad and graduate levels. Throughout her career, Dr. Root has maintained a strong passion for student advocacy, student success, and continuous program improvement.

Dr. Root first joined OUWB in 2018 as the senior medical school advisor and was promoted to the director of Academic Success position in 2019. Dr. Root is an alumna of the University of Detroit Mercy where she double majored in psychology and addiction studies. She earned her master’s degree in community counseling with a focus on career counseling from Oakland University. In May 2021, she completed her Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership with a focus on Lean Leadership. For her doctoral project, Dr. Root conducted a study on the role of new student orientation in building a supportive community among novice medical students.

Kara Sawarynski, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement 
Associate Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Kara Sawarynski, Ph.D., is the assistant dean for Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement and is working with medical educators across the continuum to evolve the curriculum to meet the needs of today’s medical student. Dr. Sawarynski is also a tenured associate professor at OUWB teaching cell biology in the pre-clinical curriculum. Additionally, she serves as an Embark Program Co-Director, which includes development and implementation of the longitudinal research design courses, directing of the first year through fourth year medical students in the conception and execution of their required independent research projects, and oversight on Embark Program events. In 2011, Dr. Kara Sawarynski began her medical education career working to define the inaugural Oakland University William Beaumont (OUWB) curriculum. She served as vice chair of the Foundational Medical Studies Department (2019-2023), president of the Faculty Assembly (2021-2023), chair of the OUWB Scholarship Committee (2016-2022) and is a member of the OUWB Medical School Management Committee among other committee responsibilities.

Dr. Sawarynski received her B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the Lee Honors College of Western Michigan University. She completed her doctoral work in Cancer Biology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Her research career spans molecular and cellular biology, cancer biology, and infectious diseases within a variety of model systems, and is now focused on medical education techniques. Dr. Sawarynski’s current research is focused on medical student wellness, improving research design instruction, and developing educational scaffolds to support GenZ students. She is a national AAMC Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) certificate program graduate, an OUWB Diversity Champion graduate and has completed Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead training certificate program. Dr. Sawarynski has led a Dare to Lead Daring Teams Rollout program for OUWB faculty and staff and is pursuing leadership training opportunities for OUWB students. Dr. Sawarynski is passionate about creating an environment in which all students and faculty can thrive.

Brooke Taylor, MPH, CHCP, FACEHP
Assistant Dean for Continuing Medical Education

Brooke Taylor, MPH, is the assistant dean for Continuing Medical Education for the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and director of Continuing Medical Education for Beaumont Health. Ms. Taylor received her B.S. in Dietetics from Iowa State University and her MPH from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a certified continuing health education professional and holds a graduate certificate in training and development from North Carolina State University. Ms. Taylor has more than 15 years of experience in continuing medical education and served as the director of Continuing Medical Education for Duke University School of Medicine prior to joining OUWB and Beaumont Health (now Corewell Health).

Tracey Taylor, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion
Associate Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Dr. Taylor joined Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in August 2014 as associate professor of microbiology in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies. She teaches microbiology and infectious diseases to M1 and M2 students. Dr. Taylor served as vice chair of the Department of Foundational Medical Studies from January 2018 until August 2019. She also has served as an assistant dean of Diversity & Inclusion since August 2019.

Prior to joining OUWB, Dr. Taylor was an assistant, and then associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Microbiology at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, where she taught microbiology to M1 and M2 osteopathic medical students.

Dr. Taylor received a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in cellular, molecular, and microbial biology from the University of Calgary, Alberta, and a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Western Ontario, London.

In 2014, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners appointed her to its National Faculty in the Foundational Biomedical Sciences in the Division of Microbiology and Immunology. She served as vice president for the American Society for Microbiology, Missouri branch, and is a member of the International Association of Medical Science Educators and the National American Society for Microbiology.

Dr. Taylor’s main research areas are medical education research, and microbiology and pathogenesis. She is specifically interested in the use of online learning modules for microbiology laboratory teaching, medical student peer assessment, investigation of the quality of life of Polio survivors; how the aquatic bacteria Plesiomonas shigelloides cause diarrhea and other infections in humans, and infections (including the antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or (MRSA) among populations that are experiencing homelessness.

David M. Thomas, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Preclinical Education
Associate Professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

David Thomas, Ph.D., is the associate dean for Preclinical Education, responsible for the development, implementation and delivery of the undergraduate preclinical component of the OUWB curriculum. Dr. Thomas previously held the position of assistant dean for Medical Education. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He received his Doctorate in Biological Sciences from Wayne State University, and completed three years of postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Thomas joined the Wayne State University School of Medicine as a research assistant professor in 2003 and was appointed assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2007, where he now holds an adjunct professor appointment. He became a founding faculty member and master educator in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at OUWB in 2011 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2014. Dr. Thomas has held leadership positions in medical education at OUWB including course director for the endocrinology organ system course, Biomedical Sciences representative of the Academic Success Team, chair of the Curriculum Evaluation Subcommittee and secretary of the Curriculum Committee. Nationally, Dr. Thomas is a certified Team-Based Learning Consultant-Trainer of the TBL Collaborative (TBLC). He has also served as chair of the TBLC Educational Development Committee and as a member of the TBLC Steering Committee. He served as an LCME Fellow in 2017 and is currently a member of the AAMC Medical Education Senior Leaders community.

Danielle Turner-Lawrence, M.D.
Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine

Danielle Turner-Lawrence, M.D., serves as the associate dean for Graduate Medical Education at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB). In her role, she collaborates with OUWB administrators to enhance the clinical learning environment for students and implement educational programs for residents. Additionally, she is an associate professor of Emergency Medicine and the residency program director for Emergency Medicine at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital.

Dr. Turner-Lawrence joined OUWB in 2009 as a clinical faculty member. Over the past 15 years, she has held several leadership positions, including clerkship director for Emergency Medicine, chair of the OUWB Admissions Committee, and assistant dean for Career Advising to M3 and M4 students.

Dr. Turner-Lawrence earned her Bachelor of Science in 2001 and her Medical Doctorate in 2005 from the University of Michigan, followed by residency training at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C.