Deborah J. Tuttle, MD and John P. Piper, MD Vice Dean for Educational Affairs

Leon McCrea II, MD, MPH, serves as the Deborah J. Tuttle, MD and John P. Piper, MD Vice Dean for Educational Affairs at Drexel University College of Medicine. A dedicated leader in medical education, Dr. McCrea is widely recognized for his efforts to advance inclusive excellence in academic medicine. He works collaboratively with the Offices of Admissions, Educational Affairs, Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement to implement best practices for promoting educational innovation workforce development within the College of Medicine and its biomedical sciences programs. In addition, he serves as a resource for affiliate training sites, providing education and training in bias mitigation and inclusivity strategies. Dr. McCrea’s mission is to create an environment where learners and faculty are prepared to lead healthcare innovation across all educational domains.

Dr. McCrea is an associate professor in the Department of Family, Community & Preventive Medicine and has served in multiple leadership roles, including as the program director for the Family Medicine Residency and Drexel Pathway to Medical School programs. In these roles, he focused on developing competency-based curricula, supporting learners from historically underrepresented backgrounds, and fostering mentorship to advance the next generation of health care leaders.

A graduate of Brown University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in human biology, Dr. McCrea went on to complete his MD and Master of Public Health degrees at the University of Pittsburgh. He trained in family medicine at Crozer-Keystone Health System, where he later joined the faculty and became the associate program director of the Family Medicine Residency. In 2015, Dr. McCrea was recruited to Drexel University College of Medicine as the program director of the Family Medicine Residency and was later appointed assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion. His work in this role culminated in his promotion to senior associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion in 2020.

Senior Vice Dean for Faculty; Professor of Pediatrics; Executive Director, ELAM and ELH; Executive Director, Lynn Yeakel Institute for Women's Health and Leadership

Nancy Spector, MD, is the executive director of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program, the Executive Leadership in Health Care program, and the Lynn Yeakel Institute for Women's Health and Leadership. She also serves as senior vice dean for faculty at Drexel University College of Medicine and is a professor of pediatrics. Dr. Spector is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed her residency, chief residency and general academic pediatrics fellowship at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

Dr. Spector supplemented her educational portfolio with a fellowship in faculty development at Michigan State University and coursework in leadership and faculty development at the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Harvard Macy Institute. She was a fellow in the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program in 2009–2010.

Dr. Spector joined St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in 1997 and, in addition to her other academic roles, she served as vice chair for education and faculty development, associate director of the Pediatric Residency program from 2002 to 2012 and program director from 2012 to 2016. She served as the associate director of ELAM from 2015 to 2016. Since 2016 she has been the executive director of ELAM.

Her expertise extends broadly in academic pediatrics in the areas of curriculum design and implementation, evaluation methodology and process, faculty development and mentoring. Her scholarly work focuses on the development and implementation of competency-based educational programs, mentorship, faculty development, professional development and leadership skills. She has been a leader of the I-PASS Study Group, a research group that focuses on patient safety and communications research and is a founder of the I-PASS Patient Safety Institute, which seeks to train institutions in best handoff practices and aid in their implementation.

Professor and Academic Chair of OB-GYN

Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, MEd, MPPM, is an international diversity, inclusion and equity expert, healthcare strategist and maternal/infant health care equity advocate. She is the senior vice president and enterprise chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for Allegheny Health Network/Highmark Health. As a practicing physician, she cares for women in her general OB-GYN practice, with a special interest in providing care for women living with HIV and those in under-resourced communities. Her passion for health equity and building programs that improve outcomes for women, people of color, vulnerable and marginalized communities has been a common thread throughout her highly respected career and commitment to service. Preventive health care involves keeping our environment safe and free from chemical toxins, internal and external violence, and political influence that cause harm to our communities. She promotes a healing ecosystem touching the physical and mental challenges of everyday living.

As the academic chair and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Drexel University and founder and president of JustWONDOOR, a global health nonprofit specialty training organization, Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew continues to train and mentor learners focused on cultural humility in medicine. She is recognized nationally and abroad for her contributions as a sustainable and transformational change agent utilizing the Pillars of Internal Transformational Equity, a model created by Larkins-Pettigrew, LLC.

A frequent speaker on health care strategy, DEI in the workforce and in our communities, women’s health and empowerment, Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew has been featured as an expert and consultant on several platforms, including appearances on CNN, MSNBC and others. Serving on various boards, such as the Allegheny County Board of Health, Vibrant Pittsburgh, Three Rivers Youth and the Pittsburgh Opera Board are examples of her local volunteerism. Nationally, she serves on the boards of the American Heart Association and Centering Healthcare Institute. She is the recipient of many honors, including Crain’s Business Magazine “Woman of Note” award, the YMCA’s “Distinguished Woman” Awards (Pittsburgh and Cleveland) and a four-time Anthem Award winner. Additionally, she was named as one of Savoy Magazine's Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America, Becker’s Hospital Review's list of 75 Black Health Care Leaders to Know and Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Diversity Leaders. A proud Navy veteran, holding the rank of lieutenant commander, Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew is also the author of The Colors of My Heart: Embracing My Blackness with History, Family, Fear, and Faith.

Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew's unwavering passion for health equity makes her an impactful leader and a shining example for others seeking to improve healthcare access and outcomes for all.

Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Dr. Sisler is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist with a clinical and research interest in sickle cell disease and benign hematology. She has been the director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Pediatric Sickle Cell Center at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) at VCU since completing her residency and fellowship at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in 2009. She and her multidisciplinary team care for approximately 350 pediatric patients with sickle cell disease in central Virginia, which includes comprehensive transition services.

In addition to her interest in sickle cell disease, Dr. Sisler holds several administrative and leadership roles at CHoR, including interim chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. She is the inaugural vice chair for faculty development for the Department of Pediatrics, where she supports academic pediatricians with career development and advancement.

She is interested in generational differences in academic medicine and how that impacts our communication, team-building and mentorship.

William Maul Measey Chair in Medical Education; Vice Dean of Institutional Effectiveness

Seema Baranwal, MD, is the William Maul Measey Chair in Medical Education, vice dean of institutional effectiveness and an associate professor of medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Faculty, the Educational Coordinating Committee, the Preclinical and Clinical Promotions Committees, and the Admissions Committee. She also practices internal medicine at Drexel Internal Medicine in Center City, Philadelphia.

Professor, Neurobiology and Anatomy; Chair, Academic Affairs Committee; Senior Associate Dean of Educational and Academic Affairs, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

Jed Shumsky, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy at Drexel University College of Medicine. He is the director of the Medical Neuroscience course. He also serves as associate dean of educational and academic affairs for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies. In this role, Dr. Shumsky is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the academic curriculum as well as leading the assessment and evaluation of graduate programs within the Graduate School. He is also chair of the Academic Affairs Committee.

Dr. Shumsky is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including a multitude of Golden Apple Awards from medical students, the Graduate Student Association Award for Teacher of the Year, and the Angelo Pinto Award for Basic Science Education, and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching.