School of Medicine professor Thomas Moore took over as the Boston University Medical Campus’ acting provost this week after the spot was vacated because of the death of Norman Levinsky.
President ad interim Aram Chobanian, who held the position before taking his new post in November, called Moore an “excellent administrator.”
“Dr. Moore is a distinguished physician-scientist who has been assistant provost for clinical research on the medical campus,” Chobanian said in an email. “He is also an excellent administrator with experience in both academia and industry.”
A search committee is currently working to find an official replacement and return the job to the combined MED dean and BUMC provost position Chobanian used to hold.
“Everybody misses Dr. Chobanian,” Moore said. “He was terrific.”
John McCahan, who was named as MED’s acting dean last week, said that Levinsky’s death created a complicated situation at MED.
“Dr. Levinsky’s death was untimely, and he had been there so long and done so well that it has been very difficult,” McCahan said.
Chobanian said MED will still search for a replacement, despite Moore’s qualifications.
“He is highly qualified for the position but is not a candidate for the permanent job,” Chobanian said. “The search is ongoing for the combined dean/provost position at the School of Medicine.”
For now, Moore said he is “willing and happy to do the job.”
“All it does is add a few hours to my day,” he said.
Despite becoming provost, Moore said he will continue to fill his position as the campus’ director of human research.
“As director of human research, I’m responsible for making sure that human research studies are proper and follow regulations,” he said. “Now as the acting provost, I have a broader spectrum of responsibility.”
Moore said he is more concerned with doing his job well than in how long he will hold the position.
“I expect it will take around three to six months to find a new provost,” he said, “but I don’t want to approach the job as if I’m just keeping the chair warm.”
McCahan said the MED community is “very enthusiastic about Dr. Moore’s appointment.”
Moore said he has been at BU for about three years and has prior experience at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard Medical School.