Dr. Joseph E. Safdieh, an esteemed and longstanding Weill Cornell Medicine medical educator and neurologist, has been appointed senior associate dean for education at the institution, effective May 19.
Dr. Safdieh will lead the institution’s Office of Medical Education and oversee the overall living and learning experience of Weill Cornell Medical College’s students. He will develop academic programs for medical and physician assistant students, administer educational policies, and foster a vibrant, talented and diverse student body. He will also work towards elevating the work of the teaching faculty into scholarly pursuits. Dr. Safdieh succeeds Dr. Yoon Kang, who departed the institution last summer; Dr. Michael Stewart, senior associate dean for international affairs and affiliations and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, has also been serving as interim senior associate dean for education.
“Dr. Safdieh is a distinguished educator, clinician and administrator who has taught, inspired and motivated countless students during his nearly 20 years at Weill Cornell Medicine,” said Dr. Robert A. Harrington, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine. “He is the best person to take our clinical education programming to new heights and develop the next generation of healers and innovators.”
“Weill Cornell Medicine has a legacy of excellence in its education mission, and I’m honored and excited to help shape the institution’s pedagogical future,” said Dr. Safdieh, who is currently the Gertrude Feil Associate Dean of Curricular Affairs and a professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine. “As health care continues to rapidly evolve, it’s vitally important that our educational vision follows suit, training students on the newest techniques and technology, especially in artificial intelligence. With several technology-focused programs at Weill Cornell Medicine and close relationships with NewYork-Presbyterian, Cornell’s Ithaca campus and Cornell Tech, we are optimally positioned to drive national dialogue on the use of artificial intelligence in health care education.”
Since its inception in 1898, Weill Cornell Medicine has cultivated an accomplished reputation for its delivery of top-tier training to future physicians and scientists. In his new role, Dr. Safdieh will provide leadership to advance the strategic goals for Weill Cornell Medicine’s medical education mission and implement the outcomes and recommendations that emerge from accrediting entities. He will also provide oversight for the Physician Assistant program, which recently transitioned to Weill Cornell Medical College from the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
“Transitioning the physician assistant program from the graduate school is an exciting development that allows us to align clinical teaching in the medical school and manage the overall experience of medical and physician assistant students in our ecosystem, from admission to graduation,” said Dr. Safdieh, who is also vice chair for education in Weill Cornell Medicine’s Department of Neurology.
In addition, Dr. Safdieh will navigate, advise and manage student wellness and engage with students to achieve the ideal student experience at Weill Cornell Medicine. That includes working closely with the Office of Student Affairs to launch the full opening of Weill Cornell Medicine’s new student residence hall this year.
“It’s important for our medical students and physician assistant students to know that medical education goes both ways,” he said. “They aren’t just watching the movie. We can learn from each other and they’re helping us write the script.”
A practicing neurologist, Dr. Safdieh will continue to provide patient care at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “This dual focus allows me to contribute to both the immediate health needs of my patients and the long-term development of future medical professionals,” he said. “It’s important to be able to understand the intricacies of patient care when designing a program for graduates who will be taking care of patients.”
A native New Yorker, Dr. Safdieh earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, summa cum laude, from the College of Arts and Science of New York University in 1998 and his medical degree in 2002 from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he received the Alpha Omega Alpha Award for graduating first in his class. He completed his neurology residency training at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he also served as chief resident, and joined Weill Cornell Medicine’s faculty in 2006. An innovative medical educator, Dr. Safdieh has held numerous medical education roles in teaching and mentoring, curriculum development and program evaluation at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Dr. Safdieh has also served in various committee roles with the American Academy of Neurology, where he is a fellow and vice chair of the publications committee. He is currently editor-in-chief of Neurology Today, the official news source of the American Academy of Neurology.