Carpenter appointed dean of OUWB School of Medicine

Christopher F. Carpenter, M.D., has been appointed as the third Stephan Sharf Dean of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. The dean will also serve on the executive leadership team of Corewell Health - Southeast Michigan. The appointment is effective July 15.  

“Dr. Carpenter has been a strong, wise leader as our interim dean during the national search for a permanent dean and it was evident that he would be an outstanding permanent dean of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine," said Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz. "He's a proven leader with national expertise and an impressive academic background. His integrity, compassion, understanding of both Oakland University and Corewell Health, and his record of mentoring medical students, are all traits we were seeking in our search to embody OUWB's values and to lead us into an exciting future."

Christopher F. Carpenter, M.D.

Prior to his role as interim dean, Carpenter 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 and Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital (WBUH), in Royal Oak. In this, and his other hospital and system roles, he has led 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. 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 in collaboration with leaders at Oakland University and OUWB, we agreed he is the right fit for the role,” said Lamont Yoder, R.N., president of Corewell Health - Southeast Michigan. “I am confident the medical students, faculty and staff at OUWB will continue to thrive and excel under his leadership as permanent dean.”

During the pandemic, Carpenter led a COVID-19 vaccine research study at WBUH and performed 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. Carpenter also participates in and supports the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, including the Association of Professors of Medicine.

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 role as chief and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in 2019. In 2022, after Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health joined together to become Corewell Health, Dr. Carpenter was appointed to the Corewell Health Board.

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. Three metro Detroit Corewell Health hospitals, including the number-two ranked hospital in Michigan, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, are the exclusive training sites for OUWB medical students. OUWB celebrated a 98% match rate in 2024 with 38% of 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 65,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,500 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.