GFA Steering Committee
The Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA) Steering Committee is responsible for the leadership and management of GFA affairs and for approving all committee appointments. The committee consists of three officers (chair, chair-elect, and immediate past chair) and seven at-large members. In addition, liaisons may be appointed from other AAMC groups and councils with approval of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee meets twice a year and convenes monthly for conference calls.
The chair presides over all GFA and Steering Committee meetings, appoints committee chairs, and performs necessary duties and functions in order to provide appropriate leadership to the GFA. In the absence of the chair, the chair-elect shall fulfill the functions of the chair.
Read more about committee member roles and expectations.
I am humbled, honored, and delighted to serve as the new Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA) chair. I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your past contributions to the GFA. It is an honor to step into this role and work alongside such dedicated and talented faculty leaders, administrators, and professional staff. I am incredibly grateful to the past GFA chairs and their contributions to our community.
Our organization has always been a cornerstone for fostering faculty development, advocating for faculty interests, and promoting excellence in academic and faculty affairs. As we embark on this new chapter together, I am deeply committed to continuing this tradition of excellence and exploring new avenues for growth and innovation. We will continue to work and strengthen our relationship with other AAMC affinity groups and identify opportunities to partner and collaborate with these groups to advance shared interests. These efforts are aimed to inspire and motivate you in your personal and professional journey.
Your insights and feedback are invaluable. As we strive to enhance our programs, support our members, and advance our collective mission, you play a crucial role in shaping the future of our organization. I encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas with me and the GFA Steering Committee. Your contributions are vital, and I am eager to collaborate with you to achieve our shared goals.
I encourage you to visit the GFA website and fully utilize the available resources. Take a moment to learn about the various GFA committees and AAMC partners. These leaders play a significant role in advocating on your behalf to promote multiple activities that are aligned with our mission and values. Thanks to the tremendous work done by last year's committees; we witnessed excellent participation of first-time attendees at the 2024 GFA Professional Development Conference, especially the attendees for the pre-conference. I sincerely thank the faculty leaders and institutions for sponsoring your faculty and professional staff to attend the conference.
I am happy to see many of our members actively using the new AAMC Virtual Communities platform, which has replaced the previous Listserv. It is encouraging to witness the exchange of ideas and resources in this more interactive space. If you have not yet explored the platform, I encourage you to sign up and join the ongoing discussions—it is a great way to stay connected and engaged with the GFA community.
As I previously mentioned, you are vital to GFA’s success. As we continually strive to better ourselves for our constituents, I encourage you to reach out to me or any member of the GFA Steering Committee with your feedback, thoughts, and ideas. Along with the chair-elect Jamilah Hackworth, EdD, and the GFA Steering Committee, I am dedicated to enhancing the experience of every GFA member within our community and look forward to serving you in a meaningful way.
Together, we can build on the solid foundation that has been established and work towards a future where our faculty members are empowered, supported, and recognized for their contributions. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and confident that, with your support, we can make a meaningful impact.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the Group on Faculty Affairs.
Warm regards,
Johnson George, MBA, PMP, CAHIMS
Assistant Dean, Administration & Faculty Affairs
Office of Administration and Faculty Affairs
McGovern Medical School
Chair
Johnson George, PhD, MBA, PMP
Assistant Dean, Administration and Faculty Affairs
Office of Administration and Faculty Affairs
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Chair-Elect
Jamila Hackworth, EdD
Associate Director of the Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Past Chair and Nominating Committee Chair
Lisa Cain, PhD
Associate Vice President of Faculty Affairs and Development
UT Health
Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs
Professor, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences
University of Texas Health School of Dentistry
Communications Committee Chair
Jennifer Apps, PhD
Assistant Provost of Faculty Affairs
Associate Professor, Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin
Professional Development Committee Chair
Nutan Vaidya
Professor
Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs and Equity
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Program Planning Committee Chair
Beatriz Tapia, MD, MPH, EdD
Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs
Associate Professor, Population Health and Biostatistics
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Research and Scholarship Committee Chair
Michele Kutzler, PhD
Associate Dean for Faculty
Professor of Medicine; Microbiology and Immunology
Drexel University College of Medicine
Member-at-Large
Stefanie Carter, EdD
Interim Assistant Dean, Faculty Affairs
Director, Faculty Development
Assistant Professor, Medical Education
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine
Member-at-Large, Professional Staff
Ashleigh Moses, MSSW, MA
Assistant Director for Faculty Academic Affairs
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
COD Liaison
Amy P. Murtha, MD
Dean
Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
CFAS Liaison
Aviad “Adi” Haramati, PhD
Professor of Integrative Physiology
Georgetown University School of Medicine
AAMC Partner
Michelle Oliva, PMP
Director, Constituent Engagement
AAMC