Gilbert takes on role of associate dean for admissions and financial aid

Dr. Bernadatte Gilbert, assistant professor and staff physician at Penn State College of Medicine, assumed the role of College of Medicine associate dean for admissions and financial aid on Sept. 6.

Gilbert has been an interviewer and served on the admissions committees or subcommittees at two academic medical centers. She has over a decade of experience in medical education in teaching, facilitating small groups, directing courses and serving on other key medical school committees. She is the student affairs liaison for Underrepresented Medical Student Support and the society head and advisor for the Vastyan Society, MD Program, and has also served as vice chair for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

In her new role, Gilbert will oversee the processes of communication, application, selection, financial aid and matriculation of students into the medical degree and combined programs at the College of Medicine. She plans to operationalize processes that mitigate bias and allow holistic traits to manifest equitably.

“We are fortunate to have someone with her experience take on the responsibility for student admissions,” said Dr. Erica Friedman, Penn State College of Medicine vice dean for educational affairs. “The students are critical elements to not only the College, but also, when they transition to practitioners, to improving the health care experience and outcomes of patients in our communities and across the nation.”

Gilbert succeeded Dr. Dwight Davis, who has had a 30-year career as a cardiologist, professor and administrator at the College of Medicine. In his many years as senior associate dean for admissions and financial aid, he worked to admit students who embraced the institution’s medical education framework, learning how to successfully practice medicine in ever-evolving health care environments.

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