John M. Kauffman Jr., DO, FACOI, FACP
Founding Dean, Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Kauffman served as founding dean and chief academic officer of the Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of
Osteopathic Medicine in Buies Creek, N.C., from 2011 until he was named dean emeritus
in October 2019.
During his tenure at the Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Kauffman played an integral role in the school's launch and critical accreditation process. The Wallace School was the first medical school to open in North Carolina in 35 years and presently is the state's only osteopathic medical school.
Prior to his role at Campbell University, Dr. Kauffman served in several capacities at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). In 2006, he was named associate dean for postgraduate affairs and in 2010 was promoted to vice dean for postgraduate affairs of the Virginia and South Carolina campuses. Under Dr. Kauffman's leadership at VCOM, the number of residency positions increased from 40 to 280 in family medicine, internal medicine, dermatology and neurosurgery.
Dr. Kauffman also worked for University Hospitals of Cleveland from 2001-2006, during which he established University-based osteopathic residencies in dermatology and pediatrics as well as community-based residencies which included family medicine, internal medicine, and sports medicine. Dr. Kauffman is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Osteopathic Internists. He has spent more than 20 years of his career in medical education, directing medical education at medical centers and medical schools both in urban and rural communities. He has participated in medical mission trips to nations in central America, South America, India and Africa. Dr. Kauffman holds numerous professional memberships and in 2014 was awarded the American Osteopathic Foundation's Educator of the Year award.
Dr. Kauffman earned a bachelor's degree in biology/psychology at Allegheny College and his doctor of osteopathic medicine at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an osteopathic rotating internship at Clarion Community Hospital, in Clarion, Pa., and an internal medicine residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, Pa. Dr. Kauffman and his wife, Sharon, have four daughters.
Amber Fedin, DO
Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
Passionate about educating patients, physicians and students, Dr. Amber Fedin has
practiced comprehensive family medical care in a variety of clinical settings and
has approximately 15 years of experience in medical education.
She has served in leadership roles as a family medicine residency program director, a designated institutional officer, and a director of medical education. She was the director of Student Medical Education for the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) during its inaugural clinical years. She also served at LUCOM as the assistant dean for Clinical Education from 2018 to 2021.
Dr. Fedin has trained resident physicians at the Heritage Valley Family Medicine Residency Program in Beaver, Pennsylvania, and the Sovah Health Medical Residency Programs in Danville, Virginia. She completed a faculty development fellowship through Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine.
A fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians, she is passionate about addressing healthcare disparities and developing physician teachers and leaders within the profession.
A western Pennsylvania native, Dr. Fedin completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at Bethany College and graduated from medical school at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency training at the Heritage Valley Family Medicine Residency Program in Beaver, Pennsylvania, where she served as chief resident.
M. Renee Prater, DVM, PhD
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
Before joining Duquesne, Dr. Prater spent 20 years at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic
Medicine (VCOM), Blacksburg Campus. She started in 2002 as Assistant Professor of
Pathology, then served as chair of Microbiology, chair of Immunology, and associate
dean for Curriculum, Assessment, and Medical Education as she was promoted to full
professor.
After beginning her research career at the University of Virginia, Dr. Prater led a federally funded, strong, and interdisciplinary team of researchers in the field of developmental biology at Virginia Tech, where they investigated the role of nutrition and environmental exposures on fetal development and long-term metabolic health. She also taught a number of courses including microbiology, immunology, physiology, pathology, and clinical medicine in the preclinical curriculum at VCOM and in the Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences at Bluefield College.
Dr. Prater also served her community by participating in a number of committees within Bluefield College, at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and with the Scientific Research Institute at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Physiology from the University of Akron. After gaining important experience in the pharmaceutical industry with the Upjohn Company and research experience at the University of Virginia, Dr. Prater completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with honors at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She continued at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine to complete her residency in clinical pathology and her doctoral degree in immunotoxicology.
Dr. Prater is presently studying the role of human-animal relationships in mental and physical wellness.
Jason E. Wells, PhD
Associate Dean for Biomedical Affairs, Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
Before joining Duquesne, Dr. Wells held multiple leadership positions at the Liberty
University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) from 2013-2021. In his most recent
position as the assistant dean of Academics, he led the Office of Medical Education
and began the process to re-design the curriculum for Pre-Clerkship medical students.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Wells and his team ensured uninterrupted medical
education to LUCOM students, implementing technology and learning methods never-before
fathomed in medical education.
While at LUCOM, he also served as vice-chair of Anatomical Sciences, where he spent a year helping to shape the curriculum and culture before the college welcomed its first class in 2014. He was then appointed as pre-clerkship curriculum director in 2015.
Dr. Wells has worked in medical education for more than 18 years, holding faculty and leadership positions at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. He has received numerous awards and recognitions including five-time Educator of the Year, four-time Biomedical Educator of the Year, two-time William Osler Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Atlas Golden Key Award for Biomedical Faculty.
Dr. Wells' neurophysiology research focused on the ionic currents involved in the conduction and transduction of pain in primary sensory neurons. He has published numerous articles in multiple journals. A southwestern Pennsylvania native, Dr. Wells earned his doctoral degree in the Program of Neuroscience from the West Virginia University School of Medicine, and his bachelor of science degree in Neuroscience from Allegheny College. He is a Costin Scholar and is pursuing an additional doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership.