New Medical School Dean Named

Dr. Michael Rosenblatt – globally renowned osteoporosis researcher and Harvard professor – will lead Tufts' 110-year-old Medical School.

Boston [08.13.03] Tufts University today named Michael Rosenblatt, M.D., 55, as the new Dean of its School of Medicine. He will also have oversight of the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences. Rosenblatt -- an internationally recognized researcher in bone and mineral metabolism who was pivotal in the development of the drug FOSAMAX -- will assume his new post on Nov. 1st.

Dr. Rosenblatt is an internationally recognized researcher in bone and mineral metabolism. He is also a founder of the Carl J. Shapiro Institute for Education and Research at Harvard/Beth Israel Deaconess, known for its academic innovation. As the George R. Minot Professor of Medicine at Harvard, Dr. Rosenblatt is also a gifted educator. He holds 17 patents and has authored more than 200 scientific publications..

“Dr. Rosenblatt brings impeccable research and scholarly credentials to Tufts," said President Lawrence S. Bacow. “Medical school deans must understand basic science, clinical research, clinical practice and medical education. Dr. Rosenblatt has distinguished himself in each of these areas.”

Prior to joining Harvard, Dr. Rosenblatt co-led Merck's worldwide development team for the company's drug, FOSAMAX, for osteoporosis and bone disorders, established major research institutes in Japan and Italy, and led the company's worldwide university and industry relations department. During his eight years at Merck, Dr. Rosenblatt directed worldwide drug discovery efforts in molecular biology, bone biology and calcium metabolism, virology, cancer research, and cardiovascular research at centers in the U.S., Japan and Italy.

Dr. Rosenblatt also has been a highly productive member of Boston's medical community, graduating from Harvard Medical School (magna cum laude) in 1973 and training in endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital. From 1992-1998, he served as director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology where he trained a highly selective pool of M.D., Ph.D. and dual degree candidates from around the world.

From 1996-2000, he served as the Harvard Faculty Dean and Senior Vice President for Academic Programs at CareGroup and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In this position, he was a founder and the first executive director of a unique academic center at the Harvard Medical School that addressed the dual demands on a hospital of providing clinical care while simultaneously training the next generation of physicians.

There he pioneered the use of virtual patient cases to improve clinical skills and address the limited access to patients caused by shortened hospital stays and same-day surgery. He also instituted a first-of-its-kind teaching fellows program for physicians making a career commitment to clinical education.

Dr. Rosenblatt became the President of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in 1999, serving in that position until 2001. He currently serves as Chief of Bone and Mineral Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

“Dr. Rosenblatt brings a wealth of experience in all the vital sectors affecting medicine, biomedical research, medical education and biotechnology,” said Jamshed Bharucha, provost and senior vice president at Tufts. “He will be a key member of our leadership team as we forge stronger partnerships in research and education across the university and with our affiliated hospitals.”

Dr. Rosenblatt will relocate his research lab in bone and mineral metabolism to Tufts, and will collaborate with research colleagues in his area of specialty across the University's three Massachusetts campuses.

Research by Tufts faculty and students in the field of bone health spans several schools, ranging from the nutritional prevention of osteoporosis in all ages, to the genetic aspects of bone development, as well as bone tissue engineering, and a number of dental and orthopedic studies addressing both animal and human health.

“Tufts is a great university with an exciting future,” Dr. Rosenblatt said. “Tufts Medical School is a wonderful place already with even greater potential. I look forward to working with my colleagues so that Tufts can achieve greater distinction and stature.”

Bacow and Bharucha both expressed special thanks to Dr. Nicolaos Madias, who has served as interim dean of the medical school since January 2003.

“Dr. Madias is a superb teacher, scholar, clinician and colleague,” Bacow said. “He has served the School of Medicine with distinction in many leadership roles. As Dean, he built upon his exemplary record of service to ensure a strong foundation for the future of the school. We look forward to his continuing contributions in the years ahead.”