Wright Named Interim Vp, Medical-School Dean

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- John R. Wright, M.D., chair of the Department of Pathology, has been appointed interim vice president for clinical affairs and dean of the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, effective Jan. 1.

Wright fills the temporary vacancy created by the resignation of John P. Naughton. M.D., who is stepping down on Dec. 31 after 21 years.

In announcing Wright's interim appointment, UB Provost Thomas Headrick praised Naughton for his years of service to the medical school, UB and the medical community, and for his commitment to improving medical education and health care in the region and the state.

"The Naughton era at UB has been marked by remarkable advances in the quality of medical education, expanded opportunities for disadvantaged students and the advancement of medical research," Headrick stated. "He leaves a considerable void which we have yet to fill."

Wright will assume the duties of dean and vice president for clinical affairs until a new appointee assumes office. An interim chair of pathology will be named in the near future.

Headrick said of Wright: "John knows the school well and has vast experience with the area hospitals. He served as interim director of Roswell Park Cancer Institute in 1985-86, and currently holds office and board memberships with several national organizations. The president and I have every confidence that John will provide the excellent leadership in this crucial period and have given him our full support."

Wright received his medical degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. He came to UB from Johns Hopkins University, where he held assistant professorships of pathology and oncology. He was named chair of the Department of Pathology in 1974.

In addition to his duties as chair, Wright has served as acting director of the Experimental Pathology Graduate Program and as director of the University Pathology Residency Program. He has been head of pathology at Buffalo General Hospital since 1974, and served a 10-month term as acting head of pathology at Children Hospital. He has been a member of the Board of Visitors of Roswell Park Cancer Institute since 1981 and its chair since 1987. He has been a clinical consultant at Roswell Park since 1975.