ϳԹ appoints directors for Interprofessional Education and Pre-Professional Scholars Program
ϳԹ is enhancing opportunities for student success through two key leadership appointments that emphasize mentorship and professional preparation.
Vikas Gampa has been appointed faculty director of the Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP), effective Aug.1. In this part-time role alongside his work as a practicing physician, Gampa will guide students as they explore careers in medicine and other health fields and help them build the skills and experiences needed to succeed in professional schools.
Zachary Woods has been named Director of Interprofessional Education (IPE), effective Sept. 8. In this role, Woods will develop interprofessional health programs that give students the collaborative skills and perspectives they need to succeed in their careers, while simultaneously meeting accreditation requirements. He will also work closely with healthcare deans and their teams to deliver a meaningful experience for students that will benefit their entire careers.
"We are deeply committed to preparing our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world,” said provost and executive vice president Joy K. Ward. “Woods and Gampa bring not only remarkable expertise, but also a passion for teaching and mentoring. Their leadership will ensure that our students are supported, challenged and inspired as they move toward their professional goals."
Reporting to Daniel Lacks, Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary and International Initiatives, both roles will advance programs that connect disciplines and prepare students for professional success.
"These roles reflect our vision to strengthen both interprofessional health education and pre-professional pathways,” said Lacks. “Both Zach and Vikas will help prepare our students for success—Zach by creating impactful programming for collaborative practice, and Vikas by providing invaluable guidance to pre-professional scholars as they prepare for medical school."
About Zachary Woods
In his role, Woods will create impactful interprofessional health care programming that equips students with the perspectives and skills they need to thrive in their professions after graduation. He will work collaboratively with healthcare deans and their teams to deliver an IPE model that is highly impactful for students.
Woods joins ϳԹUniversity from Ohio State University, where he spent the past seven years as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Education and Innovation. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completed his pharmacy practice residency at Ohio Northern University.
A distinguished educator, Woods has received Ohio State’s highest teaching honor—the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching—along with multiple other accolades, including the Award for Distinguished Teaching in the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program, the Miriam R. Balshone Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching in PharmD and the College of Pharmacy Inspire Teaching Award.
About Vikas Gampa
ϳԹ’s highly competitive PPSP students receive conditional admission to the School of Medicine when they enroll as undergraduates. The PPSP faculty director—a School of Medicine faculty member and practicing physician—provides mentoring, guidance and professional context to support students through the undergraduate portion of their journey.
As faculty director, Gampa will build an effective support and guidance structure that prepares PPSP students for success in medical school.
Gampa is an internal medicine physician at MetroHealth Medical Center and co-lead of the first curricular block in ϳԹ’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, “Becoming a Doctor”, which addresses the relationship of a doctor with patients and society.
He earned his MD from Harvard Medical School and his Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He later joined MetroHealth in 2021 after completing a Rural Health Leadership Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
A highly regarded teacher and mentor, Gampa has been recognized with the MetroHealth Ambulatory Teacher of the Year Award, as well as the Resident Teaching Award and Intern Teaching Award from Harvard Medical School.
