Cook named interim executive vice president for health sciences at UofL

Larry N. Cook, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics and a long-time faculty member at the University of Louisville, has been appointed interim executive vice president for health affairs, UofL President James Ramsey, Ph.D., announced June 1.

Cook was appointed to take over for Joel Kaplan, M.D., who stepped down effective Aug. 16 to join the faculty full time.

"Given Dr. Cook's experience with the university and the Louisville Medical Center, his noteworthy administrative skills and the respect he has earned during his many years at UofL, I believe he is well prepared to keep our thriving health sciences initiatives moving full speed ahead during this transition period," Ramsey said.

Cook holds undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Louisville. He joined the UofL faculty in 1974 after completing his pediatric residency at the University of Colorado Medical Center and his neonatology fellowship at UofL.

Cook was named chair of the pediatrics department and chief of staff at Kosair Children's Hospital in 1994. He also is president and chairman of the School of Medicine's Practice Plan board and the Medical School Practice Association.

He has served as president and been instrumental in the development of University Health Care Inc., a Medicaid managed-care HMO known as Passport, since its inception, Ramsey said.

"This university is very precious to me, and I am honored to be offered this exciting and challenging opportunity," Cook said.

"I am committed to moving quickly ahead with our broad-based agenda promoting excellence in research, clinical programs and all forms of health sciences education."

The UofL pediatrics research program has thrived under Cook's leadership.

According to published reports from the National Institutes of Health, the department rose from 70th to 43rd in the national rankings of pediatrics departments for NIH-funded research between 1996 and 2003.

The department's annual NIH research support grew from $570,611 in 1996 to $3.7 million in 2003.

"Larry's knowledge of the health sciences and collaborative approach will be an asset to the university," added Provost and Executive Vice President Shirley Willihnganz, Ph.D.

"We look forward to his contributions to the leadership team as part of the president's office."