Ganzel’s appointment was announced at the March 1 UofL Board of Trustees meeting.
Current dean Edward Halperin will leave UofL on March 19 to become CEO and chancellor for health affairs of New York Medical College and provost for biomedical affairs of Touro College and University.
“Dr. Ganzel has been deeply involved in the operations of the School of Medicine for more than a decade,” said David L. Dunn, executive vice president for health affairs. “She understands the needs of our faculty, staff and students as it relates to education, clinical care and research.
“In the coming weeks, the provost and I will be working with Dr. Ganzel in broad consultation with the faculty, our partner hospitals and others to form a committee that will undertake a national search to fill the position on a permanent basis.”
“We’re delighted that Toni has agreed to be our interim dean,” said Provost Shirley Willihnganz. “Our medical school needs continued strong leadership, and she will bring an extraordinary skill set to the job.”
Ganzel came to UofL in 1983 as an assistant professor in otolaryngology. She served as chief of otolaryngology at Kosair Children’s Hospital from 1989 to 2002 and director of the division of otolaryngology at UofL from 1993 to 2001, when she was named associate dean of student affairs for the School of Medicine. In 2003 she was named senior associate dean for students and academic affairs in the school.
“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve the School of Medicine in this capacity,” Ganzel said. “This institution has been home to me for most of my professional life and I care very deeply about its future. I look forward to working with Provost Willihnganz and Dr. Dunn and with the medical school faculty, staff and students as we continue our educational, clinical and research agendas.”
A native of New Mexico, Ganzel earned her Bachelor of Science and medical degrees from the University of Nebraska. She earned a master’s degree in business administration/medical group management from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minn. She completed her residency in otolaryngology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center before joining the faculty at the Creighton University School of Medicine.
Ganzel is a fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. ELAM is the nation’s only in-depth program that develops the professional and personal skills required to lead and manage in today’s complex health care environment, with special attention to the unique challenges that women in leadership posts face.