David H. Roberts, Harvard Medical School associate professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, has been named the first dean for external education at HMS. The March 12 appointment culminated an extensive search and will inaugurate an exciting and important leadership role at the School, said Jeffrey S. Flier, HMS dean.
"In this new position, David will be a core member of my educational and broader leadership teams. He will work collaboratively with other HMS leaders and faculty to build infrastructure and programs, bringing our extraordinary HMS educational expertise to new and expanded categories of learners, both locally and around the globe," said Flier.
Roberts' new role will include defining and implementing a fresh strategic vision that will advance HMS's educational goals throughout the world, guiding the School's initiative to produce a range of educational programs that incorporate the latest technologies.
"I am honored to be named by Dean Flier to this new position and look forward to many exciting opportunities and challenges. This is a time of incredible innovation in education, when new technologies can link learners worldwide and deliver content across many new platforms. I am thrilled to help HMS continue to lead in this arena and welcome ideas from all members of our community," Roberts said.
Roberts is also expected to build partnerships with Quad departments, the University, Harvard Catalyst, HarvardX and HMS-affiliated institutions, developing and enhancing existing nondegree offerings to create a unified and inspiring vision for the future of external education.
His portfolio will also include Harvard Health Publications and the Department of Continuing Medical Education, where he will be responsible for integrating these outstanding programs into a compelling educational vision.
Roberts is an HMS alumnus, Class of 1995, and completed his internal medicine training at Massachusetts General Hospital and a pulmonary and critical care fellowship in the Harvard Combined Program.
At Beth Israel Deaconess, much of Roberts' work has focused on the intersection of medicine and medical education, earning him a national reputation as a highly collaborative and innovative medical educator. He currently serves at Beth Israel Deaconess as the associate director of the Carl J. Shapiro Institute for Education and Research, as director of the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education and director of the Academy of Medical Educators.
Roberts has directed both HMS preclinical courses and the Beth Israel Deaconess Principal Clinical Experience. He is both a member and an associate director of the Academy at HMS. Over the years he has received numerous teaching awards, including the coveted HMS Faculty Prize for Excellence in Teaching.
A highly creative and entrepreneurial individual, Roberts has a keen interest in the use of technology to improve teaching of and communication with faculty, students and patients.
Roberts will begin working in this new role immediately, completing his transition on July 1, and will retain some of his responsibilities at Beth Israel Deaconess.
