WesternU President named to Fulbright Specialist roster
Western University of Health Sciences President Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, has been named to the Fulbright Specialist roster. Fulbright specialists serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning, and related subjects at academic institutions abroad for a period of two to six weeks at a time.
Applications to join the Fulbright Specialists community are reviewed by a peer review panel assembled by The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.
As a member of the Fulbright Specialist Program, Dr. Wilson will be eligible to travel abroad on behalf of the United States to work on a diverse, short-term collaborative project focused on education and training. The program pairs highly-qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at their overseas host institutions, according to Fulbright. Where exactly or how often the Fulbright Specialist Program may take him over the next four years is to be determined by invitations from colleagues at institutions abroad.
“It’s not so much about where it is… as it is about the who and the what,” Wilson said. “What excites me is the idea of collaborating with international professionals and helping as many people as possible. I would particularly love to work with universities in other countries and even develop collaborations on behalf of Western University of Health Sciences – both abroad and within the United States.”
Wilson will retire as WesternU president at the end of June 2021 and, after a sabbatical, plans to serve the University as University Professor. His academic background and professional experience open many opportunities for idea exchange under the Fulbright Specialist program.
“In every country there are opportunities to have an impact in health care or education or social services, and that’s very exciting,” Wilson said. “Every time I visited another country, I came back with ideas on how we can do things differently here. There is truly an exchange. Specialists bring specialist knowledge, but it must be adapted to the country one is visiting. My own perspectives are sharpened and enhanced by spending time with colleagues in other countries.”
The U.S. Department of State suspended the Fulbright Program and postponed all Fulbright Specialist projects that have not yet commenced on March 12, 2020. As a result of the suspension, individuals who are recommended by the Peer Review Panel for placement on the Fulbright Specialist Roster will officially be added to the Roster after the U.S. Department of State determines that projects can resume. This will ensure that individuals receive a full, uninterrupted tenure during which time they may be matched to a project.
