JOHNSON CITY East Tennessee State University has named Dr. David Linville, assistant dean and director of operations for ETSUs James H. Quillen College of Medicine, as acting associate vice president/executive director for Rural and Community Health.
Dr. Wilsie Bishop, ETSU vice president for Health Affairs and university chief operating officer, appointed Linville to the post, citing his extensive experience in curriculum development and track record of leadership at Quillen. She moved quickly to place Linville in the role previously held by Bruce Behringer, who led the ETSU Office of Rural and Community Health for 20 years until he accepted a senior position with the Tennessee Department of Health on Oct. 19.
Bishop said Linville will be pivotal in advancing the universitys continued outreach to the community through experiential education. She said Linville is also committed to helping strengthen the interprofessional collaboration that is the backbone of the Academic Health Sciences Center at ETSU.
An academic experience that extends beyond the classroom and into the community has become a signature of health professions education at ETSU, and Bruce Behringer was integral in helping make that our hallmark, Bishop said. As we continue to grow what we have built, its essential that someone with vision is in place to lead this initiative.
David has been actively involved in developing our rural and community programs for years, and I have the utmost confidence in him.
Linville earned his doctor of medicine degree at Quillen and completed an internship in general surgery at ETSU. A College of Medicine faculty member since 2001, Linville served as interim assistant dean for Academic Affairs from 2007-08.
He remains director of operations at Quillen and, as an associate professor in medical education, will continue serving as director of the second-year Practice of Medicine course. Linville also holds an adjunct position in the ETSU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
