Washington, D.C., September 13, 2007 - The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) announced today that Steven L. Kanter, M.D., has been selected as the new editor-in-chief of Academic Medicine, the AAMC's monthly peer-reviewed journal. Dr. Kanter, who will continue to serve as vice dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, will take the journal's helm on January 1, 2008.

"Dr. Kanter's understanding of the challenges facing medical schools and teaching hospitals, his breadth of experience in medical education, and his outstanding reputation as a thoughtful leader who builds consensus made him the ideal choice for this position," said AAMC President Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. "We are very confident that the journal, under Dr. Kanter, will become an even more valuable resource on the issues and challenges facing the leaders of academic medicine."

Dr. Kanter, who has been a member of Academic Medicine's editorial board since 2005, brings to his new role a variety of experience in clinical medicine, medical education, medical school administration, and medical informatics. His career in the dean's office began in 1991 when he was recruited by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to develop its Office of Medical Education and serve as its founding director. Named associate dean of medical education in 1997, Dr. Kanter guided the implementation of a new medical student curriculum at Pittsburgh. In 2002, he became vice dean and assumed responsibility for faculty and academic affairs. In this position, Dr. Kanter has played a key role in reformulating guidelines for the appointment and promotion of faculty, developing the rationale for extending the maximum pre-tenure period for clinical faculty, and establishing a system of "promotion pathways" to assist in career development at the medical school.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as editor of Academic Medicine," said Dr. Kanter. "These are important times for medical schools and teaching hospitals. We have much to do, and I am very enthusiastic about the journal's potential to advance our thinking as we address the pressing issues of the day."

Dr. Kanter earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio and completed a neurosurgery residency at the University of Florida Health System. He also completed a National Library of Medicine fellowship in medical informatics at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Kanter succeeds Michael A. Whitcomb, M.D., who has served as editor-in-chief of Academic Medicine since 2002. Dr. Whitcomb, who retired from the AAMC in 2006, announced his intention to step down as editor earlier this year.

The most widely cited journal in its field, Academic Medicine publishes articles on the pressing challenges facing the leaders of medical schools and teaching hospitals today. For more information, go to www.academicmedicine.org.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 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 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 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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