Christopher F. Carpenter, M.D., has been appointed as Stephan Sharf Interim Dean of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. The dean also serves as OUWB Chief Academic Officer for Corewell Health. The appointment is effective Sept. 5.
“Dr. Carpenter will provide steady, prudent guidance during the search for a full-time dean of the School of Medicine," said Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz. "He's a proven leader with acclaimed expertise and an impressive academic background. His integrity, compassion and record of mentoring medical students are traits at the heart of OUWB's values."
Dr. Carpenter most recently served as the Michael E. Maddens, M.D., Distinguished Chair and Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, Michigan and Corewell Health’s William Beaumont University Hospital (WBUH), in Royal Oak, Michigan. In this, and his other hospital and system roles, he leads and represents more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers in the provision of clinical care, the pursuit of innovative research, and the education and mentorship of future physicians and other health care providers. Dr. Carpenter’s clinical subspecialty is in the field of infectious diseases, providing care for patients in both ambulatory and inpatient settings.
“Dr. Carpenter is well-respected by his peers and has a long history of educating medical students, residents and fellows. He is a great fit for the role, and I am confident students will enjoy working with him,” said Corewell Health’s Chief Operating Officer and Interim President of Corewell Health East Darryl Elmouchi, M.D.
Carpenter’s recent research endeavors include leading a COVID-19 vaccine study at WBUH and performing health care cost-effectiveness analyses of zoster vaccination. He has served on several state and national committees, including the Food and Drug Administration Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee and the FDA Medical Devices Panel.
Carpenter has received recognition from his colleagues as an Hour Detroit Top Doctor (including being a member of the Top Doctor Hall of Fame) and been named among America’s Top Physicians and Best Doctors in America. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and he has served the Michigan Infectious Disease Society. Dr. Carpenter also participates in and supports the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, including the Association of Professors of Medicine.
“With Dr. Carpenter’s wealth of experience and knowledge in working with OUWB students, faculty and staff, he stood out as a natural fit to lead our medical school as interim dean while a national search is conducted for the next permanent dean,” said OU’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Britt Rios-Ellis. “I have really enjoyed getting to know Chris and learning more about the breadth of his stellar clinical and administrative trajectory. I have also been impressed by his personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. With his strong health care and services experience, he definitely possesses the skills and qualities that personify our ongoing tradition of exceptional humanistic medical school leadership.”
In addition to patient care, Dr. Carpenter initially focused on antimicrobial stewardship after joining WBUH and served as Director of WBUH’s Antibiotic Stewardship Program for 15 years. He directed the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program for 10 years and served as section head of Infectious Diseases for five years prior to assuming his current role as chief and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in 2019. In 2022, after the merger of Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health, Dr. Carpenter was appointed to the Corewell Health Board.
Dr. Carpenter earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering and his Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Michigan. He subsequently completed an internal medicine residency at Duke University followed by an infectious diseases fellowship at Johns Hopkins University before joining WBUH in 2000. Dr. Carpenter also earned his Master of Health Services Administration degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 2017.
About OUWB
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine develops compassionate, highly skilled physicians who are dedicated to improving the health of their communities. The LCME-accredited medical school is located on Oakland University’s Rochester Hills, Michigan campus. OUWB welcomed its charter class in August 2011 and is a union between Oakland University and Corewell Health, formerly Beaumont Health. Three metro Detroit Corewell Health hospitals, which includes the number-two ranked hospital in Michigan, William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, are the exclusive training sites for OUWB medical students. OUWB celebrated a 100% match rate in 2023 with 42% of our students matching in primary care residency programs. For more information, visit oakland.edu/medicine.
About Corewell Health
People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy
and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides
health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 22 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.2 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.
