Dr. Jay Perman, dean and vice president for clinical affairs at the University of Kentucky medical school, will be the new president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, returning to an area where he worked for more than 15 years.
Perman, 63, was the chairman of pediatrics for the University of Maryland Medical System for five years, and he spent 12 years as professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
In an interview Tuesday evening, Perman said he wants the university to serve as a greater force in battling urban challenges for the city and state. Perman added that he will push for building additional research facilities, saying that groundbreaking studies have been stymied by a "need for major facilities."
The announcement comes on the heels of a state legislative audit last week that showed a high-ranking UMB employee received $410,000 in "questionable compensation payments" that were approved by UMB's current president, David J. Ramsay, who announced in June that he would be stepping down after 15 years. University payroll records revealed that employee was the former dean of the law school, Karen H. Rothenberg.
Perman said the incident will have his full attention when he takes over July 1.
"It's very important that we reassure the public that we will manage in ways that are totally appropriate," Perman said.
UMB includes many of the state system's most prestigious graduate programs, including its medical and law schools and the 10-acre BioPark research incubator.
Frank Calia, the school's vice dean of clinical affairs, said he helped recruit Perman back to the area from Virginia Commonwealth in 1999. Calia said he worked with Perman on several projects during his five years at the UM medical system and that he had a unique ability to connect with young staff.
"He was so good at mentoring young people," Calia said. "He did that at the faculty level, at a resident level and at a student level. He really cared about education and at the same time was supportive of research."
William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the state university system, remembered going to Perman's farewell party when he left Maryland in 2004. "It was a real wake in a sense, because people were so sorry to see him go," he said.
The chancellor is friendly with University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd and said Todd "always used to talk to me about Jay, what a difference he was making, the advances in their medical school, what a terrific fundraiser he was." Kirwan noted Perman's ability to attract several eight-figure gifts to Kentucky and his work to establish a branch of the medical school in the underserved eastern part of the state.
Perman took the job as dean at Kentucky in May 2004 and has since recruited about 200 faculty members, according to the school.
School officials say Perman managed the implementation of external educational partnerships at Kentucky supporting the colleges of dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and others.
Perman said he never anticipated returning to Maryland, and that it was not an easy decision to leave his current post.
"When things go well and you're among wonderful colleagues, decisions like this are difficult," he said. "I would only make a move to a place that means something to me. I raised my family in Baltimore. I was proud to be a faculty leader. That's what propelled me."
Baltimore Sun reporter Childs Walker contributed to this article.