BOSTON, November 6, 2004 - N. Lynn Eckhert, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H., director of academic programs for Harvard Medical International (the international division of Harvard Medical School), began her one-year tenure today as chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Dr. Eckhert succeeds Donald Wilson, M.D., dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Dr. Eckhert joined Harvard Medical International last year, after serving on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Medical School for more than two decades. During her time at UMASS she served as chairman and professor of family and community medicine, associate dean for admissions, and vice chancellor/dean for international and public health programs. She is past president of the medical staff at the UMASS Memorial Medical Center and remains a professor in the medical school's departments of pediatrics and family and community medicine, as well as an adjunct professor at the UMASS School of Public Health.

An active member of the AAMC Executive Council, Dr. Eckhert is former chair of the association's Council of Academic Societies. She also serves as the current chair of the AAMC Review Committee for the Fogarty International Center program, which provides international clinical research training experiences for U.S. graduate students in the health professions.

Dr. Eckhert, a pediatrician, also is chair of the board of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, and immediate past president of the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine. After earning a Masters of Nursing degree from New York Medical College, she graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine. She also earned Masters and Doctorate of Public Health degrees from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.

Thomas M. Priselac, president and chief executive officer of Cedars-Sinai Health System, was named AAMC chair-elect today. He will succeed Dr. Eckhert as chair of the association next year.

Mr. Priselac has been associated with Cedars-Sinai Health System for more than two decades, serving as executive vice president until 1994 when he took over in his current role. He is a member of the American Hospital Association Board of Directors and chairs the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Health Committee. He is former chair of the AAMC Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems and serves as an adjunct faculty member of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health.

Mr. Priselac earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, and a master's degree in public health, health services administration and planning from the University of Pittsburgh.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 130 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and nearly 90 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 125,000 faculty members, 70,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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