He became dean of the university's College of Medicine in 1991 and left USF in 1995. He died Tuesday in Chicago.
By LISA GREENE
Published August 1, 2003
Dr. Marvin R. Dunn, former dean of the College of Medicine at the University of South Florida, died Tuesday (July 29, 2003) in Chicago. He was 71.
"He made a major contribution to upgrading our focus on education," said Dr. Peter Fabri, associate dean for graduate medical education in the college. "Teaching students got a real shot in the arm when he became the dean."
Under Dr. Dunn, the college added several new courses, revised its curriculum and began bringing first- and second-year students into clinics rather than teaching them just in the classroom, Fabri said.
Dr. Dunn, a pathologist, was at USF from 1988 to 1995. He came to USF in 1988 as an associate dean. He became dean of the medical school in 1991. In 1994, he was named interim vice president for health services. In 1995, he left USF to become director of the division of graduate medical education for the American Medical Association.
Most recently, Dr. Dunn was working at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, where he advocated better working conditions for medical residents.
Before joining USF, he held leadership posts at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio and the Medical College of Pennsylvania. He also worked at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Dunn was quiet but always "kind and thoughtful" and focused on his work, Fabri said.
Dr. Dunn became dean a year after a national accreditation committee threatened to put the medical school on probation.
"He handled it very well," Fabri said. "He led a very aggressive charge" and made "substantive changes" to the medical program.
The year after Dr. Dunn became dean, the committee extended the college's accreditation for seven years, the longest period allowed under the law. The committee's inspection team cited Dunn's leadership as a major reason for the college's improvement.
USF officials also credited Dr. Dunn with strengthening ties between the college and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa General Hospital and other local hospitals.
A memorial service will be held in Chicago. Dr. Dunn's family has requested that gifts be made to the China Medical Board of New York.
