Dr. John A. Rock shares his remarkable journey as the founding dean of Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. In this episode, he reflects on the vision and strategies behind creating a new medical school from the ground up, the importance of community engagement, and the innovative NeighborhoodHELP program that connects students with households to address social determinants of health. Drawing on leadership lessons from Johns Hopkins, Emory, and LSU Health Sciences—where he led recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina—Dr. Rock offers practical insights on team building, accreditation, and sustaining innovation. His advice for academic medicine leaders is timeless: pause before reacting, communicate relentlessly, and build relationships at every level. This conversation is a must-listen for deans and senior leaders seeking to drive meaningful change in medical education

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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