The executive dean of Kansas University’s School of Medicine is a finalist for a similar position at the University of Minnesota.

Deborah Powell, who has been at KU since 1997, interviewed Monday and Tuesday at the Minneapolis campus.

She is one of five finalists for the position.

Powell met with faculty, students, administrators and community members during her trip. She also gave a public lecture to discuss the issues facing academic medicine.

Other finalists for the dean position include:

 Sharon B. Murphy, chief of the division of hematology and oncology at Children’s Memorial Hospital and professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University in Chicago.

 Thomas M. Krummel, chair of the department of surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.

 Eli Adashi, head of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center in Salt Lake City.

The name of the fifth candidate hasn’t been formally announced but published reports said it was Nicholas F. LaRusso, professor of medicine and chairman of the Mayo Clinic’s internal medicine department.

Roby Thompson, chair of the search committee, didn’t return phone calls Tuesday. Powell wasn’t available for comment.

The dean will replace Alfred F. Michael, who announced in September he would retire in June. He has served as dean since 1996.

Powell came to KU in 1997 after 20 years at the University of Kentucky, including 16 years as chief of pathology. She was the first female executive dean in school history.