The University of Minnesota announced the appointment of a new executive vice dean of the Medical School Wednesday. Mark S. Paller, M.D., M.S., will begin July 1, pending approval by the Board of Regents, who will make their decision June 12. Paller is currently assistant vice president for research at the Academic Health Center, a position he has held since 1999. He has been a practicing physician and guest lecturer at the University for 27 years, specializing in renal diseases and hypertension. As executive vice dean, Paller would oversee the everyday events of the Medical School and implement the directions of the Medical School dean. He will be working with Frank Cerra, who is also awaiting the Board of Regents’ approval before taking the position of both senior vice president for health sciences and dean of the Medical School. Cerra is now Senior Vice President for Health Science and was elected dean by President Robert Bruininks January 29. In an internal e-mail acquired by the Daily, Cerra said of Paller, âÄúI have always respected his keen insight and dedication to supporting the core missions of the Medical School and University. I canâÄôt imagine anyone more qualified to serve the Medical School at this time in its history.âÄù The Medical School and Academic Health Center are currently undergoing restructuring in an initiative to increase efficiency. Mary Koppel, the Academic Health Center’s assistant vice president for public affairs, described the initiative as âÄúbecoming more important in a more acute economy.” “You look at whatâÄôs going on in the overall state funding, and we are seeing a similar impact on the University, and itâÄôs becoming more important to streamline and eliminate duplication,” Koppel said. âÄúMark Paller is a man who is able to get things done. He has an amazing ability to take a complex environment, and find a simple solution.”. Check Wednesday’s Daily for more details.