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John Vitale is the dean of the Æðµã´«Ã½â€™s Westbrook College of Health Professions, where he oversees a wide portfolio of health professions programs, including Maine’s only physician assistant program and Maine’s only school of pharmacy. 

Vitale is committed to addressing the health care needs of the state of Maine by collaborating with regional colleges, universities and health care systems. These collaborations have included, among others, leading efforts with Husson University, following the closure of its School of Pharmacy, to provide a teach-out plan and pathways for their pre-pharmacy students. Vitale is also overseeing the launch of Æðµã´«Ã½â€™s new Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program to address the shortage of mental health providers in Maine. 

Before joining Æðµã´«Ã½, Vitale served as dean of the College of Health Professions at Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago, where he successfully initiated and expanded multiple health professions programs, led accreditation processes, and strengthened clinical partnerships.

A national leader in health professions education, Vitale founded the country’s first pathologists’ assistant academic department and served as president of the Association of Pathologists’ Assistants Training Programs. His leadership is marked by a commitment to interprofessional education and practice.

Most recently, Vitale served as dean of the School of Professional Studies and Science at Landmark College, where he designed new academic programs and mentored neurodiverse students interested in pursuing careers in health care.

Vitale earned his Ph.D. in interprofessional health care studies from Rosalind Franklin University, where his research focused on assessing interprofessional competency in graduate medical education. He also holds a Master of Health Sciences in Pathologists’ Assistants Studies from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor’s in biology from Keene State College.