Biography

Senior Instructor, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Dr. Norma Wagoner just completed, at the end of June 2010, a two and a half year commitment to serve as Associate Dean for Admissions, University of Colorado School of Medicine. In addition, she is a faculty member in the department of Cell and Developmental Biology. Prior to moving to Colorado in 2002 to semi-retire, she was the Dean of Students and Deputy Dean for Education Strategy, Division of the Biological Sciences and the Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago for 14 years. Dr. Wagoner also held the academic rank of Professor, Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy. Upon completion of her tenure at Chicago, she was inducted into the University's Gold Key Society for distinguished service. Prior to coming to Chicago, she served as Associate Dean of Student Services and Educational Resources and Associate Professor of Anatomy at the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine for ten years. Her first academic appointment following completion of her Ph.D. at Washington University School of Medicine in the Department of Anatomy in St. Louis was Rush Medical College in Chicago, where she was Assistant Professor of Anatomy for six years, and for the last four also served as Assistant Dean of Admissions. She is a member or has chaired admissions committees in four medical schools for over 30 years and interviewed more than 6000 applicants. Dr. Wagoner describes herself as an educator, leader and change agent. She has taught dissection of the human body to first year medical students in five medical schools. She has received outstanding teaching awards from Rush, Cincinnati and Colorado, where in 2007 she received the Chancellor's teaching award. She has worked with the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for over 15 years, was a member of the Board of Trustees, and until the fall of 2008, served as the national director of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. In addition, she chairs the Gold Foundation's Medical and Professional Advisory Council. Dr. Wagoner is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) and one of 10 national honorees in the Gold Humanism Honor Society. A national leader, she was chairman of the Group on Students Affairs, AAMC; President, National Resident Match Program for two years and board member for 16 years. A board member on the National Board of Medical Examiners for eight years, she also served as a member or a chairperson of several of their committees during her tenure. She was active on numerous financial aid committees, serving as national chairman of several of them. In 2001, she received a "history maker's award" from the Office for Women in Medicine, AAMC for having started that office 25 years ago. In 2003, she was awarded the first Group on Student Affairs Exemplary Service Award. She has written and lectured widely on issues in medical education, including those on residency selection factors, admissions, financing a medical education, minority recruitment and retention, humanism and professionalism. She is a strong advocate and voice in helping reduce barriers that prevent students, faculty and institutions from achieving a humane medical education.