Scott Richardson, an internist and specialist in evidence-based medicine, was recently appointed campus associate dean of curriculum for the Medical College of Georgia and University of Georgia medical college partnership.

Richardson and MCG/UGA campus dean Barbara Schuster said they hope to provide a dynamic learning environment for Athens’ newest academic addition.

Richardson said he plans to create curricula that integrate the most current, active research for students interested in entering both smaller practices and larger health care systems.

He added that oftentimes important and highly valid research is not introduced to the classroom and medical field in a timely manner.

Richardson’s experience with evidence-based medicine will allow the new medical college to push important findings and knowledge to the forefront of the learning environment.

“A good analogy for evidence-based medicine is the delivery of clean, clear water,” he said. “There are a lot of steps to push clean water through faucets on demand. Imagine if knowledge could be pushed to the forefront in a similar manner and health care professionals could make educated decisions faster.”

Schuster and Richardson met during residency in New York 30 years ago and have worked together on and off since then. Both said they expect to work cooperatively at the new medical college.

Schuster said Richardson is more than an average internist and will be a valuable addition to the college.

“Aside from working hard and diligently, Dr. Richardson is always curious about how and why people learn and how he can help people learn better,” she said. “He’s the ultimate student – always learning and wanting others to learn.”

She said the medical college’s searching committee conducted a rigorous and thorough search for an associate dean, and after a few rounds of interviews, the committee narrowed the search to Richardson and one or two other candidates.

Though many qualified and competitive candidates applied, Schuster said she and the committee thought Richardson stood out the most and would bring a unique perspective based on prior work experiences.

Richardson – who served as a professor and held numerous leadership positions at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio – will soon move to Athens permanently with his daughter and wife, a physician assistant.

Schuster and Richardson said they plan to host open houses this fall to meet with prospective students in person. The college will open August 2010 at the Interim Medical Partnership Building on Williams Street, but will be moved to its permanent location on Prince Avenue – where the Navy Supply Corps School currently resides – in 2012.

“These open houses will allow students to see the building and understand how Dr. Richardson and faculty will build upon and develop wonderful activities for the college,” Schuster said.