Robert A. Kozol has been named chief of staff for the University of Connecticut Health System.

The chief of staff position was traditionally a hospital's "chief doctor" or "doctor's doctor" but has evolved into more of an administrative position providing oversight for physician credentialing , admitting privileges and insuring regulatory compliance. The UConn Health System represents clinical enterprises at the UConn Health Center, including the faculty practice, satellite family practices in Simsbury and Bloomfield, and the John Dempsey Hospital.

Kozol, of Farmington, is a professor of surgery, vice chair of the Department of Surgery in the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and clinical chief of surgery in the Health System.

"This is a challenging job," Kozol says of his new responsibilities. "The chief of staff, in addition to providing oversight for numerous administrative programs, has to establish trust among physicians and then keep it, by being approachable and level-headed. I'm enthusiastic about the position and I'm looking forward to meeting the challenges."

Kozol brings administrative experience to the new position. He is currently completing his master's degree in health administration and, before joining the Health Center, he held faculty and administrative positions at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. He was also chief of surgery at the Detroit Veterans Administration Medical Center.

"Kozol is an excellent selection as chief of staff," says Steven Strongwater, UConn Health System chief operating officer and former chief of staff. "He has prior administrative experience in academia and in one of the federal agencies, is well known within the UConn Health System, and has the experience and energy to make very meaningful contributions here."

Peter J. Deckers, dean of the School of Medicine, says "increased regulation and the associated issues of compliance and certification, as well as the advent of managed care, have caused the chief of staff position to evolve. It is a critical administrative post that Dr. Kozol will do very well at."

Kozol received his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University. He earned his medical degree from the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center, also in Syracuse, where he did his surgical- and chief- residency. He joined the Health Center faculty as a member of the Department of Surgery in the mid-1980s, before moving to Michigan.

Kozol is an expert in endocrine and laparoscopic surgery. He has cooperated in surgical trials, assisted in developing new techniques for laparoscopic surgery, and regularly trains other surgeons in those techniques.

An author as well as a surgeon, academic and researcher, Kozol has written books for surgical residents and for family practitioners. He also was one of the featured surgeons on an Internet video, "Endoscopic Repair of Rectal Stricture": http://www.laparoscopy.com.

Pat Keefe