Drs. Amiri (left) and George. (Courtesy photos)

On May 3, 2022, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education Christa Zehle, M.D., announced the appointment of two new associate deans at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont.

Leila Amiri, Ph.D., has been named Larner's next associate dean for admissions. Dr. Amiri comes to Larner from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where she is associate dean for admissions and recruitment. Previously, she was director of admissions and financial aid for the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She holds a Ph.D. from Northcentral University, and M.A. and B.S. degrees from the University of South Florida. Amiri is a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Advancing Holistic Review in Alignment Working group, chair of the AAMC BA/MD Affiliate Group and team lead for the Central Region Committee on the AAMC Professional Development Initiative. Amiri will begin her new position at Larner on June 27.

"I am so excited to join the Larner College of Medicine and look forward to advancing the mission in this academic community that values and embraces those humanistic traits that are so important to advancing health for all and lifelong learning," said Amiri.

Karen George, M.D., M.P.H., has been named Larner's next associate dean for students. George is currently clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University and chair of the Council for Residency Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Her work through CREOG is focused on creating national curricular materials for residents in obstetrics and gynecology in patient safety and quality improvement, health equity, and on improving diversity and inclusion in the specialty through participation in a national learning collaborative called “Equity Matters”. She also serves on the leadership team of a five-year American Medical Association Reimaging Residency grant, called “Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day 1,” focused on improving the transition to residency. George served as director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center/Geisel School of Medicine for 17 years and is a course advisor and co-director of the Fourth Year Transition to Residency Course at George Washington University College of Medicine. She also serves as senior fellow of women’s health policy at the Institute for Medicaid Innovation. George received a B.S. degree from Bates College, M.D. from Ohio State University College of Medicine, and an M.P.H. from the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.

"It is an honor and privilege to have been chosen to serve in this position," said George. "I very much look forward to joining the Larner community of learning and to getting to know each of you,"

Amiri will begin her new position at Larner on June 27. George will begin her new position on August 1.