PROVO, Utah, July 1, 2021 – The Board of Trustees (Board) of the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) today announced it has started a national search for a new permanent president and appointed Dr. Norman S. Wright, Ph.D. as interim president during the search.
Dr. Wright has been a member of the Noorda-COM Board of Trustees for the past two years. He currently serves as Dean of the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University, a position he has held for the past 11 years. His extensive career in higher education began in 1995, and he has held numerous administrative leadership positions.
The Board anticipates that a new president may be appointed by this fall.
Dr. Richard P. Nielsen, president of Noorda-COM for the past two years, retired from his position at the institution effective June 30, 2021, following the achievement of critical objectives in starting the school in Provo.
The inaugural class of 90 Noorda-COM students begins this summer.
“The Board wishes to thank Dr. Nielsen for his vision and hard work to start a medical school in Utah County,” said Francis Gibson, chair, Noorda-COM Board of Trustees. “We appreciate his long-term service to Noorda-COM, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, his community, and communities throughout the world. Thousands of people in part owe their medical and health care to the work Dr. Nielsen has done and continues to do.”
Working with many leaders and stakeholders, Dr. Nielsen played an essential role in achieving a more than 10-year vision of bringing a medical school to Provo. His work included many crucial aspects in the development of the medical school, including:
- Successfully navigating the acquisition of the property for the new medical school from Provo City.
- Recruiting and appointing a world-renowned Dean and Chief Academic Officer.
- Helping meet all requirements to achieve each step leading to pre-accreditation status.
- Leading the team that secured significant funding for the development of the medical school.
- Welcoming the first 90 students comprising the inaugural class that will begin in the summer of 2021.
About Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Located in Provo, Utah, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) offers an innovative and unique medical education approach. Noorda-COM provides 21st-century medical students a curricular model blending active, small group learning with advanced laboratory experiences and research opportunities while also emphasizing school and life balance with a commitment to health and wellness. Noorda-COM focuses on preparing future residency-ready physicians committed to providing patient-centered healthcare. Noorda-COM is a private, proprietary institution. An independent governing Board of Trustees oversees Noorda-COM. The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation granted Noorda-COM Pre-Accreditation status in December 2020. https://noordacom.org
A. Cory Maloy
Maloy PR
801-877-3112
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