June 5, 2016

UOW welcomes new Dean of Medicine

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Nicholas Zwar as its new Dean of Medicine.

Professor Zwar will be joining UOW from the University of NSW, where he has held the roles of Deputy Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of General Practice  in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine.

UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings, CBE, said Professor Zwar’s research interests and teaching experience make him the perfect choice for UOW.

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Zwar to the School of Medicine and the University of Wollongong,” Professor Wellings said.

“The commitment Professor Zwar has shown to not only his research but also the way in which medicine is taught is a testament to his passion and leadership qualities.”

Professor Zwar has had a distinguished medical career spanning 30 years and has maintained a high level of involvement in clinical work as a general practitioner. His research interests include chronic disease management in general practice and primary health care, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infectious diseases, health promotion in primary care, travel medicine and quality use of medicines.

The current Dean of Medicine, Professor Ian Wilson, has decided to step down from the role of Dean in order to return to his preferred educational role. Professor Wilson will return to his previous position of Associate Dean: Learning and Teaching.

“I thank Professor Wilson for his service in the role of Dean of Medicine and for his commitment to continuing to provide quality teaching in the School of Medicine into the future,” Professor Wellings said.

Professor Zwar says he is looking forward to implementing an ambitious research strategy and taking the next steps in research development at UOW as well as continuing to develop excellence in teaching.

UOW’s multidisciplinary School of Medicine offers courses in the fields of Indigenous Health, Medical and Exercise Science, Medicine and Nutrition and Dietetics. UOW’s Graduate School of Medicine was established in 2007. Since then it had graduated 464 medical students as doctors trained to deliver primary health care in rural, regional and remote communities.

Professor Zwar is expecting to take up his role in the School of Medicine on 12 October 2016.