December 21, 2021—(BRONX, NY)—Albert Einstein College of Medicine has named Janice Thomas John, D.O., M.S., M.P.H., as its inaugural assistant dean for integrated medical education. Dr. John, who is currently an assistant professor of science education and pediatrics at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and pediatrician in the Northwell Health System, will begin her new role at Einstein in January 2022.

“As Einstein continues to transform its medical school curriculum, Dr. John will play a critical role in launching and refining a range of new courses that integrate basic science, clinical skills, and health systems sciences across all four years of our educational program,” said Todd Cassese, M.D., associate dean for medical education at Einstein. “Her demonstrated leadership, dedication to underserved populations, and extensive expertise in developing integrated medical curricula make her an ideal choice to help lead this exciting transformation at Einstein.” Dr. Cassese is also professor of medicine at Einstein and a hospitalist at Montefiore Health System.

Upon her arrival in the Bronx, Dr. John will concentrate on collaborating with course directors for Einstein’s new longitudinal four-year courses, including those focusing on service learning (students learning in community environments outside the hospital system) and impact (which provides students the opportunity to perform a mentored project that culminates in a capstone project). Dr. John also will be an integral member of numerous educational committees and task forces contributing to the collaborative process of revising the curriculum and assessment structure at Einstein.

“Einstein’s commitment to service, social justice, and academic excellence are in large part what attracted me to this institution,” said Dr. John. “Each team member that I met seemed to have a deep-rooted and personal commitment to the institution and to underserved populations. I am excited to learn and grow from the Einstein family. While serving with my talents and expertise, I trust that I will be able to contribute to this legacy, in my own way.”

Dr. John is a pediatrician who has practiced both pediatric hospital medicine and outpatient pediatric medicine. At Zucker School of Medicine, she co-directs the four-year clinical skills course and leads the health equity component of the Patient, Physician, and Society course. She has taught extensively in case-based learning, where integrating basic sciences, health systems sciences, and clinical care is a priority.

Dr. John’s passion for health equity is demonstrated through curricular innovations and community engagement programs she has helped create that allow medical students to develop a sense of social responsibility in their first years of training. She partnered with students, staff, and community stakeholders to develop the Medical Science Youth Program that partners local high school students with medical student mentors. She has distinguished herself as a steward of diversity and inclusivity through her work on anti-racist curricula, unconscious bias training for students, staff, and faculty, and several invited presentations on mitigating bias in medical education.

As Einstein continues to transform its medical school curriculum, Dr. John will play a critical role in launching and refining a range of new courses that integrate basic science, clinical skills, and health systems sciences across all four years of our educational program.

Todd Cassese, M.D.

Prior to joining Zucker School of Medicine, Dr. John was a pediatric hospitalist at Stony Brook University Medical Center. She earned her medical degree at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. While in medical school, she was selected to participate in a pre-doctoral fellowship to further develop her teaching skills and earned her master’s in clinical research and education from University of North Texas Health Science Center. She completed her pediatric residency and general academic pediatrics fellowship at Stony Brook University Medical Center. She received her master of public health degree from Stony Brook University, which equipped her with skills to develop a home visitation program for at-risk children, Keeping Families Healthy, which she directed.

Dr. John is active in the national organization Directors of Clinical Skills Courses (DOCS) serving as co-chair of the membership and mentorship subcommittee and on the DOCS executive council.