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POMONA, Calif. Dr. Paula Crone has been promoted to dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, the first time in the medical schools 36-year history that one of its graduates has held the position.

" She will not only provide leadership and direction to the faculty and staff of the college, but she will also have the capacity to galvanize the alumni of the college to become more active participants in advancing its mission, as well as that of the university," said WesternU President Philip Pumerantz, PhD.

"With the looming implementation of the Affordable Care Act facing the nation and our own institution, Dr. Crone's experience as a humanistic, committed family physician, and her academic leadership in bringing forth our DO program in Lebanon, will put her firmly in control of guiding this university on its course to prepare all health professions for the form of practice that will evolve during the middle of this century."

After earning her degree, Crone completed her residency in family practice at Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland and opened a private practice, Creekside Family Practice LLC. She remained involved in education by serving as a preceptor to medical students, interns and residents.

Crone began serving as executive associate dean of the COMP-Northwest campus in Lebanon in 2009, and she helped welcome COMP-Northwest's inaugural class of 107 students in July 2011. She was named WesternU's Vice President for Oregon Operations in 2012. She then took on the role of interim dean of COMP at the beginning of 2013, after former COMP Dean Clinton Adams, DO, stepped down.

"I am honored and humbled to take on the role of dean of one of the finest medical schools in the country," Crone said. "I look forward to involving our alumni and engaging them to help educate the next generation of physicians. It is an exciting time to be involved in medical education as we help usher in a whole new era of medicine."

Western University of Health Sciences opened its doors in 1977 as the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, and welcomed its inaugural class of 36 students the following year. Today, WesternU is home to more than 3,600 students in 21 degree programs, as well as more than 1,000 employees, and is one of the most thriving enterprises in the Pomona and Inland valleys.

COMP has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, including 316 Lebanon students.

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Paula Crone promoted to medical school dean