Dr. Robert J. Shelley, currently associate dean for student affairs in Savannah for Mercer University School of Medicine, has been appointed interim dean of the Savannah campus.

Dr. William F. Bina III, dean of the School of Medicine, recently announced that Dr. Shelley’s appointment will be effective July 1, when current dean of the Savannah campus Dr. T. Philip Malan Jr. plans to step down.

“Dr. Malan has provided three years of top-notch service to the School of Medicine as dean of the Savannah campus and vice dean of the School,” said Dr. Bina.

“Dr. Shelley has played a key role as associate dean for student affairs on the Savannah campus since January 2012. He is a highly regarded local pediatrician who practiced for about 30 years in Savannah before joining the School. He will serve us well in the interim period.”

A search committee has been named and will begin its work immediately under the leadership of Dr. Steve Carpenter, chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in Savannah, with the assistance of executive search firm Alexander, Wollman and Stark.

The committee includes Dr. Marie Dent, associate dean of faculty affairs in Savannah; Dr. Mark Murphy, a member of the Memorial University Medical Center board of directors; Dr. Robert Pallay, chair of the Department of Family Medicine in Savannah; Dr. Edward Perkins, associate professor of genetics; Dr. Chris Senkowski, chair of the Department of Surgery in Savannah; Dr. Tina Thompson, senior associate dean of academic affairs in Savannah; and Dr. Robert Visalli, associate professor of microbiology.