UND's medical school names new deans, leadership positions
Jul. 10—Dave Relling has been named the new associate dean for UND's School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Relling is a graduate of the SMHS physical therapy program and former chair of the physical therapy department. He received a doctorate from UND's former department of physiology, pharmacology and therapeutics. He will take the position of retiring associate dean Tom Mohr, who has held the position since 2014.
"The health sciences departments and programs at the SMHS have excellent leadership, faculty, staff, and students," said Relling. "It is an honor to have this opportunity to work cooperatively with each of the department chairs and programs as they serve the people of North Dakota through education, research, and service."
Relling, a Dilworth, Minn. native, is a member of the board of directors for the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, the physical therapy professional association, and the Health Regulatory Research Institute. He has also served on the North Dakota State Board of Physical Therapy.
Relling also succeeded Mohr as chair of UND's physical therapy department in 2014.
Mohr said he and his wife Peggy are looking forward to spending more time with their children and grandchildren, who are spread across the United States. He wished Relling well in his new position, and expressed gratitude to members of the health and sciences faculty and staff.
"I want to wish Dr. Relling the best as he assumes the associate dean for health sciences position," Mohr said. "He has the experience and personality that will serve him well as associate dean. Last, but not least, I would like to thank the PT faculty and staff, the health science chairs, and their faculty and staff for making my career so rewarding and enjoyable. I could not have done what I've done without their dedication to providing UND health sciences students the best education possible."
Relling is one of several people at the SMHS to be named to a new position.
Cindy Flom-Meland has been named chair of the SMHS physical therapy department, taking over the position from Relling. She teaches in the areas of communication and professional behavior in PT, in addition to motor control, psychology, and neuro-rehabilitation. She is the fourth department chair in its more than 50-year history, and its first female chair.
"I am excited for the opportunity and the challenge of being department chair," said Flom-Meland. "I am following in the footsteps of great leaders, and look forward to working with the faculty and staff of the PT program to carry on the great tradition of UND PT."
Several new assistant dean positions have also been created at the SMHS. In addition to creating a new executive-level position for gender equity, SMHS Dean Joshua Wynne put the wheels in motion to create faculty positions for assessment and the school's revised medical curriculum. The holders of these new positions are:
Holly Brown-Borg, Chester Fritz distinguished professor in the department of biomedical sciences, is the new assistant dean for gender equity; Minnie Faith Kalyanasundaram, associate professor in the department of family and community medicine, is the new assistant dean for academic support and longitudinal integration; Kurt Borg, assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine, is the school's assistant dean for assessment; Jane Dunlevy, associate professor in the department of biomedical sciences, will be the school's assistant dean for phase one of the medical curriculum and Susan Zelewski, assistant dean for the school's northeast campus, will also be the assistant dean for phases two and three of the medical curriculum.
