As the University of Kentucky College of Medicine continues its push for improvements in faculty development and support, it is excited to announce the addition of an internationally recognized physician to lead this charge.
Nicole McCoin, MD, has been named vice dean for faculty affairs and development. Her official starting date is April 1, 2024.
Dr. McCoin is an experienced emergency medicine physician and educator whose work – particularly in structural curriculum development, career advising, and educational leadership – will be vital to the UK College of Medicine’s goals for success.
“In order to retain exceptional faculty, we need to provide the proper infrastructure that allows our faculty to develop and feel supported, which in turn creates a better atmosphere for our learners,” said Dean Charles Griffith, MD, MSPH. “Dr. McCoin champions continual learning and professional development, and we are excited for the plentiful experience she brings to our institution.”
Dr. McCoin joins the UK College of Medicine from the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, La., where she served as chair of the department of emergency medicine. She also served an appointment as a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Queensland School of Medicine in Brisbane, Australia, where she was integral in improving their medical school curriculum.
Prior to this role, she held various leadership roles at her alma mater, the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. These included the Keith D. Wrenn Endowed Executive Directorship, vice chair for education in the department of emergency medicine, emergency medicine residency program director, and course director of diagnostics and therapeutics.
Dr. McCoin has been recognized many times for her work as an educator, clinician, and leader in academic medicine. In 2021, Dr. McCoin was honored by her employer as the Ochsner Health System Physician Academic Contributor of the Year. Two years later, she was presented the American College of Emergency Physicians National Emergency Medicine Faculty Teaching Award.
She was named one of the 2019-2020 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) fellows, a prestigious and intensive one-year training program hosted by Drexel University that aims to expand the national pool of female candidates for leadership in health care professions.
Dr. McCoin takes over a position previously held by Lisa Tannock, MD, who now serves the entire University of Kentucky campus as associate provost for faculty advancement. We are grateful for Dr. Tannock’s work to enhance the appointments, promotion, and tenure process; improve accountability in performance evaluations; and implement an ACE plan for basic science faculty.