Daniel Harrington named vice dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

27 Feb 2015

Dr. Daniel Harrington, senior dean for academic affairs at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, has been named the school’s new vice dean.

“After receiving full accreditation last year, we felt confident it was time to plan for the next era in the school’s development,” said Dr. Cynda Johnson, founding dean of the school. “Dan Harrington has been an essential part of the school’s success to date, and I wanted to involve him further in strengthening the school’s curriculum and leadership.”

In his newly named position, Harrington will work closely with Johnson, as well as the school’s associate and assistant deans, to oversee the school’s daily operations. In addition, the offices of Faculty Affairs, Admissions, Enrollment Management and Registrar, and Financial Aid will report directly to him.

Harrington’s entire career has been in academic medicine. He received his medical degree from West Virginia University and was one of the country’s first physicians to complete a combined residency program in internal medicine and psychiatry. He is board certified in both specialties.

Following his residency, Harrington began his academic career at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. There he remained on the faculty until 1990, when he was asked by the university to transfer to Roanoke to help establish a psychiatry residency at Carilion Clinic. Until 2007, he also served as medical director of Carilion Behavioral Health, Carilion Medical Center’s Psychiatric Services, and Carilion Saint Albans Hospital.

In those roles, he has contributed to the careers of numerous psychiatrists.

In 2007, Harrington was named vice president for academic affairs at Carilion Clinic, where he oversaw an expansion of graduate medical education to include the establishment of numerous new residencies and fellowships.

When leaders from Virginia, Carilion Clinic, and Virginia Tech announced plans for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine that same year, Harrington was asked to help plan and execute a vision for the school by exploring the problem-based learning curriculum model. Harrington played an instrumental role in the early development of the school, where he is a tenured professor of psychiatry.

Last year, Harrington received Carilion’s Dr. Robert L.A. Keeley Award for his physician leadership and exemplary service to patients.

“It’s an honor to call Dr. Harrington a colleague and friend,” Johnson said. “In the seven years we’ve worked together, I’ve witnessed in him such a rare combination of impeccable clinical skills, unshakable leadership qualities, extraordinary mentoring skills, unwavering compassion for patients, and dedication to nurturing the next generations of doctors.”

Written by Catherine Doss.