The nominee to head the University of Hawai'i's medical school says the school holds opportunities to further healthcare in the Pacific and become a major contributor to the state's economy.

The John A. Burns School of Medicine on Friday announced the nomination of Dr. Jerris R. Hedges, vice dean of the School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, culminating a lengthy search for a permanent dean. His appointment is expected to be voted on by UH's Board of Regents either tomorrow or Friday.

Hedges, while not available for an interview, did send an e-mail to The Advertiser detailing why he found the JABSOM post attractive and what potential he sees at the school. He said he found the strong link between the school and community "extremely refreshing" and said the state has done a good job investing in the campus to attract talented educators and researchers.

"The institutional and medical focus on Pacific and Asian populations offers unique opportunities for developing a diverse and internationally focused educational and research portfolio," Hedges wrote in his e-mail, noting the school also has a relatively unique problem-based learning curriculum.

"I am enthused about the opportunity to develop the basic and clinical research programs at JABSOM as a means to enhance the delivery of healthcare for Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders."

The school's top spot has been open since 2005 when Dr. Edwin Cadman departed because of an illness. Cadman had been an architect of the new outlook and $150 million campus for the school in Kaka'ako, and had sought to give JABSOM more prominence in education and research as well as the state's economy.

Since his departure one interim dean, Samuel Shomaker, left to take a job as dean of Austin Programs at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Currently Dr. Gary Ostrander, JABSOM's vice chancellor for research at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, serves as interim head. JABSOM is the only four-year medical school in the state, with about half of practicing physicians here getting their degree there.

Hedges comes highly recommended for the post, having served at Oregon Health & Science University, a school with a $1.8 billion budget. The university's School of Medicine was ranked in the top 2 percent of American medical schools for primary care education by U.S. News & World Report. The medical school ranked 28th in National Institutes of Health funding among medical schools and 30th in federal research dollar expenditures.

"He is so highly regarded at our university for so many things that it's hard to sum him up," said Dr. Mark Richardson, OHSU School of Medicine dean. You're awfully lucky to have him."

Hedges has served as a professor and chairman of the school's emergency medicine department, which has been recognized by the NIH as one of the top 10 research grant-supported academic departments of emergency medicine. He also co-wrote "Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine," a publication that is one of the definitive textbooks on the topic, Richardson said.

Hedges also has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences' Institutes of Medicine, a prestigious advisory body.

"He has a wealth of experience to help him and to do a great job for the University of Hawai'i," said Richardson, who has worked with Hedges for seven years.

"He's a good researcher. He has been incredibly valuable in the dean's office as somebody who not only provides great service here, but also is generous with his time and mentorship of junior faculty."

Hedges visited Hawai'i in October and addressed the JABSOM faculty and staff in open forums. Ostrander said Hedges would be a good leader for the school. Hedges has written numerous articles as well as served as an investigator on peer-reviewed research grants.

"The search for a permanent dean for the medical school has been thorough, and I couldn't be more excited about the leadership ability Dr. Hedges brings to the table," Ostrander said.

Reach Greg Wiles at gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.