Northeast News
August 19, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences [KCU], announced John Dougherty, D.O., will serve as interim dean for KCU’s new osteopathic medical school in Joplin, Mo.

In a press release regarding the announcement, Dougherty said he’s honored and excited to be selected as interim dean for KCU’s new campus. He added the Joplin campus will be positioned to have a significant impact on the need for primary care physicians to serve in rural and underserved areas in this region.

Dougherty is currently senior associate dean for clinical affairs and graduate medical education for KCU at its Northeast Kansas City, Mo., campus. He has a bachelor of science in biology and education from Culver Stockton College and received his doctor of osteopathy from KCU in 1992.

He previously served as acting dean at KCU and as chair of the department of family medicine.

Also in the press release, Marc B. Hahn, president and chief executive officer of KCU, said the expansion of Kansas City University to the new Joplin campus will be significant for advancing the school’s goal of training more physicians to address the, “ever-increasing need in our state, the region and our country.”

“Dougherty is the ideal leader to serve as interim dean as KCU develops this new medical school campus,” Hahn said. “His familiarity with the community, along with his deep understanding of accreditation and curricular issues will greatly accelerate the process.”

As interim dean, Dougherty will assist with curriculum design, faculty recruitment and campus development while the university recruits a permanent dean. Upon selection of the new dean for the Joplin campus, Dougherty will continue to serve as a senior administrator for KCU in Kansas City.

The development of the new KCU Joplin College of Osteopathic Medicine has been accelerated by the collaborative efforts of Mercy Hospital Joplin, Freeman Health System, the City of Joplin and philanthropic leadership from the surrounding community. It will be the first new medical school to open in Missouri in 45 years and will welcome its inaugural class of 150 students in 2017.