Old Westbury, NY – Wolfgang Gilliar, D.O., chair of the osteopathic medicine department at New York Institute of Technology's College of Osteopathic Medicine, has been selected as the new dean of the school.

NYIT President Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., announced Gilliar's appointment, effective January 1, 2013, at last week's student convocation ceremony for the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the School of Health Professions. Students and faculty cheered and rose to theirfeet for an extended ovation for Gilliar, who was named the 2012 Educator of the Year by the American Osteopathic Foundation.

"It is indeed a privilege and honor to be selected as the dean of this osteopathic medical school," said Gilliar. "The school is poised to continue to make real contributions to the medical education community through its emphasis on exciting educational and research initiatives, progressive technology application and by participating in inspiring health missions around the globe."

Gilliar, succeeds Thomas Scandalis (D.O., '87), who served as dean since 2007 and is now chair of the College of Osteopathic Medicine's new Department of Sports Medicine and director of the new NYIT Center for Sports Medicine and Performance Sciences. The national search to replace Scandalis began early this year.

Guiliano noted that Gilliar, an NYIT professor and chair since 2004, brings a local perspective and experience as well as outstanding credentials as a practicing osteopathic physician and former professor at Tufts University School of Medicine and Stanford University School of Medicine.

"Wolfgang Gilliar brings years of clinical, academic, and leadership experience," said Vice President of Health and Medical Affairs Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O. "He is a respected faculty member, a trusted colleague, and a passionate advocate for osteopathic medicine."

Gilliar is author or contributor to 20 books and book chapters on osteopathic and musculoskeletal medicine. He holds a Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine. He founded an osteopathic medical center in California and previously directed the traumatic brain injury unit at Tufts' Greenery Rehabilitation Center. At NYIT, Gilliar's research has focused on the effects of osteopathic manipulative medical treatment on the immune system, on patients with asthma, and patients recovering from strokes.

"I hope to continue to build on integrating relevant osteopathic concepts within modern medical models to equip and empower our students to use all of their tools—their hands, their minds, and their hearts—for the best patient management possible" said Gilliar. "We want to educate our students to become physician leaders for positive changes in the health care system and society at large, both locally and globally."

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About NYIT

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions; management; and osteopathic medicine. A non-profit independent, private institution of higher education, NYIT has 14,000 students attending campuses on Long Island and Manhattan, online, and at its global campuses. NYIT sponsors 11 NCAA Division II programs and one Division I team.

Led by President Edward Guiliano, NYIT is guided by its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, offer access to opportunity to all qualified students, and support applications-oriented research that benefits the larger world. To date, 92,000 graduates have received degrees from NYIT. For more information, visit nyit.edu.

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