KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? Barbara Atkinson, who takes over leadership of Kansas University Medical Center on Jan. 1, has announced her administrative team.

The changes Atkinson announced this week include:

• Naming Karen Miller to the newly created position of vice chancellor of academic and student affairs. She will continue as dean of the schools of nursing and allied health. Allen Rawitch, vice chancellor of academic affairs and dean of graduate studies, and Dorothy Knoll, dean of student services, will report to Miller.
• Naming Joan Hunt vice chancellor for research and president of the Medical Center’s Research Institute. Hunt will continue in her current position as senior associate dean of research and graduate education for the School of Medicine.

The current vice chancellor for research, Thomas Noffsinger, plans to retire in June. He will continue to hold the title of vice chancellor for research administration until then.

• Shelley Gebar will become Atkinson’s chief of staff and continue as senior associate dean of operations and administration for the School of Medicine and CEO of Kansas University Physicians Inc.

Two other administrators will remain in their current positions. Ed Phillips will continue as vice chancellor for administration, and David Adkins will continue as vice chancellor of external affairs.

Atkinson said the organizational structures for the schools on the campus would remain the same.

She will replace Donald Hagen, who is retiring after 10 years as executive vice chancellor for the Medical Center.