UF pharmacy dean leaving as health science program reshuffles

Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 5:06 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 5:06 p.m.

The dean of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy will be leaving after 17 years on the job, continuing turnover in the leadership of the universitys health science colleges.

William Riffee, 68, announced Tuesday that he will be stepping down as pharmacy dean in June 2013. He said he initially planned to leave in a few years but said UFs senior vice president for health affairs, Dr. David Guzick, wanted his own leadership team in place sooner.

It was just a matter of timing, and his timing was a little bit different from mine, Riffee said.

UFs Health Science Center comprises six colleges, half of which will be seeking new deans by next year. The deans of the colleges of nursing and veterinary medicine both announced in the past few months that theyll be leaving in 2013.

UF President Bernie Machen, who himself is retiring next year, noted that both Riffee and nursing dean Kathleen Long had been around for more than 16 years. Its typical for an institution of UFs size to have turnover in several dean positions in any given year, he said.

Its actually a healthy sign as we continue to reinvigorate the administration, he said.

After the three new deans are appointed, Guzick will have named five of the six deans in the Health Science Center since he started in 2009. He could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

Riffee said he has been offered the opportunity to continue at UF working with continuing education programs, but he said he hasnt made up his mind. Other universities are seeking him to lead pharmacy programs, he said.

Ive got other things that I want to do in pharmacy and pharmacy education, he said.

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UF pharmacy dean leaving as health science program reshuffles