It is with great pleasure and profound pride that the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) announces the appointment of Richard Terry, DO, MBA, as Vice President of Health Sciences and Dean of the LECOM at Elmira campus.
Dr. Terry, a distinguished graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his Family Medicine residency at the University of Rochester, where he made history as the first osteopathic graduate to be accepted into this prestigious program. Throughout his career, Dr. Terry has been a steadfast advocate for the advancement of osteopathic medical education and a leader in the field of academic medicine.
In the early years of his career, Dr. Terry made significant contributions to United Health Services in Binghamton, New York, where he served as Family Medicine Program Director and Director of Osteopathic Medical Education. His leadership and commitment to excellence laid the groundwork for his subsequent role at LECOM.
In 2012, Dr. Terry joined LECOM as Chief Academic Officer of the Graduate Medical Education Consortium (now the LECOM Consortium for Academic Excellence) and Assistant Dean of Regional Clinical Education. In these pivotal roles, he played an instrumental part in the expansion of one of LECOM’s largest regional clinical campuses at Arnot Ogden Medical Center, which today hosts over 120 third- and fourth-year medical students and supports a multitude of residency and fellowship programs throughout the region.
In 2015, Dr. Terry spearheaded the planning, development, and successful accreditation of the LECOM at Elmira campus, serving as its founding Dean. Under his leadership, the campus has flourished, and the institution has significantly expanded its clinical education network, forging strategic partnerships with Rochester Regional Health, Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital, and the Mohawk Valley Health System.
As Vice President of Health Sciences, Dr. Terry will now lead the development of innovative academic programs and cultivate new strategic partnerships to further enhance the LECOM mission of providing world-class osteopathic medical education. His expanded role will further solidify the LECOM influence upon students, faculty, and the healthcare systems served by LECOM, ensuring that the institution continues to meet the evolving needs of the communities in which it operates.
Dr. Terry’s dedication to the osteopathic profession and his unwavering commitment to education reflect the very essence of the words of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathic medicine:
The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.
Dr. Terry is not only a physician of excellence, but he is also a great educator and a forward-thinking leader who sees beyond the classroom to the communities and lives that his work impacts.
Dr. Terry is widely regarded as a passionate educator, a transformative leader, and a tireless advocate for expanding access to high-quality osteopathic medical education. His remarkable contributions have shaped the trajectory of LECOM, and his future endeavors will undoubtedly continue to transform the educational landscape and positively influence the healthcare systems served by the estimable institution.
The leadership at LECOM is confident that under Dr. Terry’s guidance, LECOM will continue to thrive and lead in the realm of osteopathic medical education, advancing the next generation of physicians who will serve with the highest standards of care and compassion.