[caption id="attachment_15928" align="alignleft" width="108" caption="Dr. Marilyn Hopkins"][/caption]
Hopkins to head California campus for Solano university
SOLANO – Dr. Marilyn Hopkins, past dean of the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Sacramento, has been brought on as the new provost and chief operating officer for Touro University California.
“With her vast experience in health science and education, Dr. Hopkins presents strong leadership qualities that will usher in a new era for Touro University California,” said Dr. Michael Harter, currently senior provost and chief executive officer for Touro University’s western division. “Dr. Hopkins is well-versed in the major tenets of this nation’s emerging health care reform policies. Of the tremendously talented individuals who surfaced in our national search, there is no doubt in my mind that she is the best candidate.”
Dr. Harter has overseen the administration of both the California and the Nevada Touro University campuses since 2008. He will continue in his role as overseer of Touro University’s western division and manage daily operations of the Nevada campus. Dr. Hopkins will assume daily administration of Touro University California.
Dr. Hopkins said she is honored and excited to lead Touro University California. She said Touro’s high-quality interdisciplinary programs can help address the health care and education needs of this nation and the state at a critical time.
Dr. Hopkins began as a part-time employee on Oct. 5 and will come on full time in December.
“I am going to spend a lot of time getting more familiar with where the graduates are,” she said.
She said she is going to focus her attention on the strategic plans for the school and what the areas of growth will be.
She expects this to weigh heavily on the health care side. Currently in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the focus is on family practice and primary care.
Dr. Hopkins said the school is meeting with local hospitals to put together a residency program.
Earlier this year, a cancer research center that was supposed to go into Touro fell through. She said this was due to the state-of-the-art drugs in use overseas awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval.
“Whether we have a cancer research center or not, we have a large and competitive program,” she said.
“The national dialogue about improving access to quality health care and improving the education of our children will provide unique opportunities for Touro University in the coming months,” she said. “With colleges of osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, education and health science, Touro University offers great expertise to the region. Touro faculty and their graduates can be part of a national effort that leads to healthier individuals, families and communities.”
Dr. Hopkins has a Doctorate in nursing science from the University of California, San Francisco. She was a nursing faculty member at Cal State University, Sacramento, for 23 years. She was promoted to associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services in 1997 and became dean in 2000. Dr. Hopkins is also a licensed Registered Nurse and has been active in community activities that benefit children, youth and families.
Established in 1997, Touro University California is one of many campuses within Touro College, a Jewish-sponsored not-for-profit educational system anchored in New York.
It is based on 44 acres on Mare Island in Vallejo. The medical school has 550 students. There are roughly 1,200 students campus-wide.
