"Dr. Hayes has had a distinguished medical career as a teacher, researcher and administrator," said Gregory G. Dell'Omo, Ph.D., president of Robert Morris University. "His experience in designing and managing innovative programs that involve undergraduate and graduate medical education, active clinical practices and research at a major university make him the ideal candidate to lead our efforts to launch a high-quality School of Osteopathic Medicine."

"This opportunity is exciting for me because of the rich educational history of Robert Morris University and Pittsburgh's reputation as a leader in health care education and research," said Dr. Hayes. "I am confident that the School of Osteopathic Medicine we seek to build at RMU will become an integral part of the region's continued excellence in the field of medical education."

Under Dr. Hayes' leadership, MSUCOM's Department of Internal Medicine recruited new faculty and increased research funding by 200 percent while maintaining its academic preeminence. U.S. News & World Report ranked MSUCOM ninth among all medical schools in the nation for primary care education. As director of the graduate medical education program at Michigan State, Hayes developed the first dually accredited residency program in the nation, approved by both the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education and the American Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Hayes joined MSU as an instructor/resident in 1982, became a tenured associate professor in 1989, and is currently a professor. Since 1982, he has served on the staffs of E.W. Sparrow Hospital and Ingham Regional Medical Center, both in Lansing, Mich. Other highlights of his career at MSU include serving as chief of emergency medicine from 1986 to 1991 and as director of the $6 million W.K. Kellogg Community/ University Health Partnership Project, a collaboration between three MSU colleges and several rural communities, from 1994 to 1997.

Dr. Hayes received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from Michigan State University in 1981. He also holds a Master of Science in biological science from Michigan State, a Master of Health Services Administration from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Central Michigan University.

Since gaining approval from its Board of Trustees in February 2005 to explore the feasibility of launching an osteopathic medical school, Robert Morris University has had discussions with the American Association of Osteopathic Medicine (AOA) about the accreditation process and submitted an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Education to open such a school. In order to submit a feasibility study to the AOA, it is required that a dean of the school be hired at least two years prior to the implementation of the degree programs.