51ĀŅĀ×

51ĀŅĀ×ā€™s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has announced the appointment of Jennifer Gwilym, D.O., as interim senior dean, effective Dec. 16.

As interim senior dean, Gwilym will serve as the collegeā€™s chief academic officer, providing leadership to all college units. In this role, she will oversee academic policy, accreditation, faculty affairs, curriculum quality improvement and medical education innovation, while advancing the collegeā€™s mission to prepare compassionate, patient-centered physicians committed to serving Ohio and underserved communities.

ā€œDr. Gwilym is a deeply respected physician, educator and leader whose career reflects an unwavering commitment to medical education, service and osteopathic principles,ā€ said Ken Johnson, D.O., vice president of health affairs and senior strategist for health partnerships. ā€œHer experience, integrity and vision make her exceptionally well suited to guide the academic mission of the Heritage College during this important period of growth.ā€

A proud 51ĀŅĀ× alumna, Gwilym earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2003. She was raised in Glouster, Ohio, and has dedicated her career to improving health and medical education across Central and Southeast Ohio. She joined the Heritage College as a clinical faculty member in 2007 and has since mentored generations of students while building strong partnerships with community-based clinical sites.

Gwilym has held numerous leadership roles at the Heritage College, including chair of the Department of Primary Care, and most recently, interim senior associate dean of admissions. She also serves as clinical assistant dean for Southeast Ohio and clinical professor of family medicine. Her academic leadership has been instrumental in strengthening educational quality, faculty engagement and student success.

Nationally, Gwilym is widely recognized for her leadership in osteopathic medicine. She currently serves as a member of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Bureau on Federal Health Programs and as a governor for the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). She served for nine years as a Commissioner on the AOAā€™s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). She is a past president of the Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA), the Ohio ACOFP, and the Heritage College Society of Alumni and Friends. She also serves as the southeast regional director of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians.

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including being named Outstanding Female Leader of the Year by the ACOFP ā€” the first Ohioan to receive the award ā€” and the Distinguished Service Award from the OOA, the organizationā€™s highest honor. She has also been nationally recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the ACOFP, honoring her outstanding service in teaching, leadership, and patient care.

In her new role, Gwilym will report to the vice president of health affairs and work closely with the executive vice president and provost on academic matters, while collaborating across 51ĀŅĀ×ā€™s health professions, graduate programs and clinical partners to advance interprofessional education, research and community impact. The senior dean position was created following the promotion of Johnson, from Heritage College executive dean to vice president of health affairs and senior strategist for health partnerships. A national search will be held in spring semester to fill the permanent senior dean role.

ā€œI am honored to step into this role at a place that has shaped my career and values,ā€ said Gwilym. ā€œThe Heritage College is more than a medical school ā€” it is a community deeply committed to improving the health of Ohioans. I look forward to continuing our work to strengthen medical education and prepare physicians who will lead with compassion, excellence and purpose.ā€