UW News

June 13, 1997

Fredric Wolf named chair of the Department of Medical Education at the UW School of Medicine

UW Health Sciences/UW Medicine

Dr. Fredric M. Wolf has been named chair of the Department of Medical Education at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The University of Washington Board of Regents approved his appointment today, June 13. His appointment is effective immediately.
He comes to his new position from the University of Michigan Medical School, where he was a professor in the Department of Postgraduate Medical Education and Health Professions Education. There he also directed the Laboratory for Computing, Cognition and Clinical Skills.

Wolf received a Ph.D. degree in educational psychology, evaluation and measurement from Kent State University in 1980. His professional interests span many aspects of health education, including patient education as well as physician training.

He is known for his work on clinical judgment, computerized medical decision tools and computer-assisted learning, doctor/patient communication, self-care for chronic conditions, and health promotion, such as exercise programs for the elderly. He has given numerous presentations and written extensively on these and other topics.

Wolf is a national advisor on the quality of medical care and the future of medical education. At the University of Michigan, he was active on many medical school and university advisory committees on curriculum matters and computing technology.

Wolf served for four years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica. A native of Canton, Ohio, he studied political science and law before turning to education.

Wolf succeeds the founding chair of the department, Dr. Charles Dohner. Dr. David Irby, professor of medical education, served as acting chair in the interim.