AUSTIN, Texas—Dr. M. Lynn Crismon, professor of pharmacy practice and a nationally recognized expert in the area of psychiatric pharmacotherapy, has been appointed interim dean of The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, effective Jan. 15.
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Dr. M. Lynn Crismon
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Crismon replaces Dean Steven W. Leslie who was named executive vice president and provost of the university.
Crismon has been associate dean for clinical programs at the College of Pharmacy since 2004.
“I am pleased that Professor Crismon has agreed to assume the leadership of our college throughout the process of a national search for a permanent dean,” said Leslie. “We are indeed fortunate for his willingness to continue to provide the highest level of academic leadership and productivity.
“Dr. Crismon is a distinguished leader in pharmacy education and research. He has served our college exceedingly well as our associate dean for clinical programs and is well qualified to take on a larger role during the interim period.”
Crismon’s research and practice involve the development and evaluation of pharmacotherapy strategies to improve the health outcomes of people with mental disorders, particularly severe and persistent mental disorders seen in adults and children.
He was a leader of the Texas Medication Algorithm Project, which focused on pharmacotherapy strategies for treatment of severe mental disorders. In 2003, the project was featured in the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health’s interim report to President George W. Bush as a model for improving the quality of care for serious mental illness.
“The University of Texas College of Pharmacy is one of our country’s truly outstanding pharmacy schools,” said Crismon. “We are a leader in preparing doctor of pharmacy graduates to meet society’s pharmacy care needs. Our cutting-edge research and graduate programs are vital to addressing present and future health care challenges.
“As we move forward, the college is committed to maintaining the same standards of excellence observed during Dr. Leslie’s tenure as dean. The emergence of academic health research and education in Austin provides us with new opportunities for growth and excellence in education, research and service.”
Crismon received a bachelor of science in pharmacy from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy in 1974 and a doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1979. He did residencies at the U.S. Public Health Service Gallup Indian Medical Center and at the San Antonio State Hospital. He also completed a National Endowment for the Humanities summer fellowship in biomedical ethics for study at the Georgetown University Kennedy Institute for Ethics.
For more information contact: Nancy Neff, Office of Public Affairs, 512-471-6504.
