Boston graduate school taps leader from George Washington University to lead next generation of health care professionals.

MGH Institute of Health Professions, the degree- granting educational institution of Mass General Brigham, has announced the appointment of Reamer L. Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C, DFAAPA, as its new provost and vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Bushardt comes to the MGH Institute from the George Washington University and begins his tenure on August 1, 2022.

“The MGH Institute of Health Professions is distinctive in its interprofessional approach to training and its ability to shape caring leaders for health care and research careers,” said Dr. Bushardt. “In my 20-year career in primary care and higher education, I have often observed how collaborative problem-solving leads to better outcomes and encourages innovation—that’s true in the classroom, the clinic, the lab, and the community. I look forward to joining the MGH Institute and the Mass General Brigham family to help advance health professions education, research, and person-centered care.” 

Dr. Bushardt is a tenured professor and senior associate dean in the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences. At GW, he oversees departments and centers comprising more than forty programs in health care and research fields. In addition to teaching and administration, he leads several federal training grants and workforce development programs, including a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-funded program focused on care for individuals with substance use disorders, a Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Health Careers Opportunity Program to advance workforce diversity, and a National Research Service Award for post-doctoral trainees pursuing primary care research careers. He has also co-led the NIH-funded clinical and translational science award operated jointly by GW and Children’s National Hospital. Throughout his career, Dr. Bushardt has developed and led programs that strive to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds become health professionals and work within underserved communities.  This work was inspired by his own experiences growing up and working in a rural, medically underserved community in South Carolina. 

“Massachusetts General Hospital is a leader in serving and partnering with its community, and I am excited to be a part of its efforts to strengthen communities for a healthier Boston and to help individuals from diverse backgrounds pursue and enter high-demand health care careers,” added Bushardt.   

Before his tenure at GW, Dr. Bushardt served as a department chair at Wake Forest School of Medicine and associate vice president for workforce innovation at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Before that, he was associate professor and division chief for physician assistant studies at the Medical University of South Carolina. He currently serves on the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education and is editor-in-chief emeritus for the Journal of the American Academy of PAs. Dr. Bushardt earned his B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of South Carolina, then a B.S. in Physician Assistant Studies from the Medical University of South Carolina. He and his wife have three daughters.

“Reamer Bushardt is the right person at the right time for the MGH Institute of Health Professions,” said President Paula Milone-Nuzzo. “When you look at his experience at a large academic medical center, extensive research collaborations, clinical experiences as a pharmacist and PA, and research interests in workforce development and translational research, along with shared values for equity, inclusion, and creating a diverse community, it’s clear that Dr. Bushardt will make a sizeable impact going forward.” 

Bushardt will succeed Dr. Alex Johnson, who is retiring in July after 14 years at the IHP. Johnson became the IHP’s inaugural provost in 2008, and under his leadership, the Institute has grown in both reputation and contributions to health professional education.

“The faculty, staff, and students within the MGH Institute are exemplars at embracing teamwork to improve the ways we learn, discover, translate knowledge, and improve care.” said Bushardt. “I immediately felt the strong sense of caring and collaboration that exists throughout the MGH Institute. Building on the Institute’s existing strengths, my goals are to nurture an inclusive culture and help the faculty, staff, students, and community partners connect passion with purpose, so all feel supported and can realize opportunities to thrive in their education, research, service, and leadership pursuits.”