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Chairman honored with ACE fellowship William J. Hueston, M.D., chairman of MUSC Department of Family Medicine, was selected as an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow for the 2008-09 academic year.   The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, is the longest running leadership development program in the U.S. It is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising senior faculty and administrators for responsible position in college and university administration. A total of 36 Fellows, nominated by presidents or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year in a national competition. Heuston is the only physician from MUSC to be selected as an ACE Fellow.   “This is a signal honor for Dr. Hueston and will prepare him for even greater leadership at MUSC and nationally,” said Jerry Reves, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine.   Sharon A. McDade, Ed.D., director of the ACE Fellows Program, noted that previous Fellows have advanced into major positions within areas of academic administration. Of the more than 1,500 participants in the 43 years of the program, more than 300 Fellows have become chief executive officers and more than 1,100 progress to become provosts, vice presidents or deans.   “We’re extremely pleased with the incoming class,” McDade said. “The individuals selected have demonstrated strong leadership. The Fellows Program will sharpen and enhance their leadership skills and their network, and prepare them to address issues of concern to the higher education community.”   Heuston is currently chair of the Charleston County Medical Society Medicolegal Committee, a member of the board of directors and has held numerous leadership positions including president of the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. Hueston also serves on the board of directors and is treasurer of the Annals of Family Medicine Inc., and served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Family Practice and the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. He’s won numerous teaching and research paper awards and posters under the category of practicing family physician. In 2003, he was named a Fellow, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Care Policy Fellowship program.   Each ACE/Bishop Fellow will focus on an issue of concern to the nominating institution while spending some time working with a medical school dean at a host institution. The Fellow will be included in the highest level of decision making while participating in administrative activities and learning about an issue to benefit MUSC.   During the program, Fellows will attend three, week-long seminars on higher education issues organized by ACE, read extensively in the field, and engage in other activities to enhance their knowledge about the challenges and opportunities confronting higher education, specifically medical education today and throughout this century.   Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and influence public policy through advocacy, research and program initiatives.    The Fellows also engage in leadership and management activities to enhance their knowledge about the challenges and opportunities confronting higher education.   The 2007-08 class will bring 1,576 higher education leaders who will have participated in the program since its inception. Of those who have participated in the first 42 years of the program, more than 300 Fellows have gone on to serve as chief executive officers of more than 350 colleges and universities. In addition, more than 1,300 have served as provosts, vice presidents or deans.   The F. Marian Bishop Charitable Trust Leadership Program is designed to prepare medical faculty, specifically family medicine physicians, for leadership positions at medical schools and academic health centers. The ACE/Lumina Fellows Program serves to increase the pool of highly qualified community college leaders.     Friday, May 2, 2008 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.