Shalina Nair, M.D., M.B.A., executive vice chair of clinical services and innovation at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and medical director for Population Health Outreach at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has been appointed as the new chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at University of Vermont (UVM) and UVM Health Network.
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The Ohio State University College of Medicine’s Dr. Shalina Nair Appointed UVM Chair of Family Medicine
Shalina Nair, M.D., M.B.A., executive vice chair of clinical services and innovation at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and medical director for Population Health Outreach at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has been appointed as the new chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at University of Vermont (UVM) and UVM Health Network, following a national search. Her appointment will be effective November 1, 2024. The announcement was made by Richard L. Page, M.D., Dean of the Larner College of Medicine, and Jason Sanders, M.D., M.B.A., President and CEO UVM Health Network Medical Group and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at Larner.
As chair of the Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Nair will lead an essential and growing department of physicians, scientists, educators, residents, fellows, and staff at the health system’s locations across Vermont and northern New York. The Department of Family Medicine has a long tradition of providing exemplary primary and comprehensive care in the region, with a commitment to patient access, equitable, person-centered care, high-quality education, and community-based research within an inclusive environment.
“I am delighted that Dr. Nair will join us as the next Chair of the Department of Family Medicine. Bringing a wealth of experience in education, research, leadership, and patient care, including four years of practice in rural New Zealand, she will have an immediate impact on the department and our college,” stated Richard L. Page, M.D., dean of the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont.
Since 2011, Dr. Nair served first as an assistant professor, and since 2019 as an associate professor of Clinical Family Medicine in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She was appointed primary care clinical lead of the Medical Center eConsult Program at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in 2018. In 2023, Dr. Nair was named both the executive vice chair of Clinical Services and Innovation for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and medical director, Population Health Outreach, for The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Office of Health Equity. Previous appointments include interim department chair, vice chair of Quality and Innovation, virtual health physician lead, and quality lead, all within the Department of Family and Community Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Dr. Nair received her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and completed her residency in family practice at Crozer-Keystone Health System in Springfield, PA. She also obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. Dr. Nair has completed two leadership fellowships: the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) Leadership Education for Academic Development and Success (LEADS) Fellowship and the Faculty Leadership Institute Fellowship at the Center for Faculty Advancement, Mentoring, and Engagement at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Epic Physician builder.
Dr. Nair is a highly regarded academic physician who has presented her work on eConsults, mentorship, and quality improvement on both national and international stages. Her efforts have secured $5 million in research funding from private and public institutions. At The Ohio State University, Dr. Nair has served as a preceptor, portfolio coach, Applied Health Systems science coach, and Clinical Assessment and Problem Solving facilitator, providing support to medical students from their first year through their fourth. She is dedicated to investing in both students and faculty, having founded a Mentorship Program Pilot within her department that has already yielded remarkable results.
She has held leadership positions in several national premier family medicine professional committees, completing a term as chair and now serving as vice chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Association of Departments of Family Medicine. She has also served on their board of directors. In addition, Dr. Nair was selected as a member of the AAMC Health Equity Workgroup for eConsults.
“Dr. Nair brings critical experience and leadership to our Family Medicine teams across Vermont and northern New York, with the vision to achieve our highest priorities in patient access, value-based care, and health equity, and the skills to improve the daily practice experience for our physicians and advanced practice professionals,” said Jason R. Sanders, M.D, M.B.A., President and CEO of UVM Health Network Medical Group, executive vice president and chief physician officer of UVM Health Network, and senior associate dean of clinical affairs at Larner College of Medicine.
Thomas Peterson, M.D., served as the department chair for 13 years, before retiring in 2023, and Laura McCray, M.D., MCSE, has served as interim chair since May 2023. Over the past year, Family Medicine teams and leaders have engaged in major initiatives to improve patient access, including e-consults, self-scheduling tools, high value care clinical pathways, and AI-enabled clinical documentation.