Kansas University Medical Center has named a new dean of its School of Nursing.

Sally Maliski, associate dean for academic and student affairs at the UCLA School of Nursing, will begin in January, KU Medical Center announced Tuesday.

Maliski previously was an associate professor in the UCLA School of Nursing and an assistant researcher for the ULCA Department of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, according to KU. She also has worked as an educator and researcher for the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Nursing, and Columbia Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Hudson, N.Y.

Maliski’s research focus is symptom experience and management among low-income populations, currently men with prostate cancer and their partners, according to KU. Her clinical focuses are oncology, hospice and free clinic primary care.

Sally Maliski

Medical, nursing and health professions students are expected to be working together in hands-on ways more than ever in KU Medical Center’s new Health Education Building, construction of which is just underway.

“Interdisciplinary education is a passion of mine, so I was thrilled to see how committed the School of Nursing is to interprofessional learning,” Maliski said in a news release. “I also appreciate the strong collaboration I observed between education and practice at the school, and the aura of collegiality and respect both within the KU School of Nursing and between all the schools at KU Medical Center.”

Maliski will replace longtime nursing dean Karen Mill, who retired in June after being in the job since 1996. Marge Bott will continue as interim dean until Maliski arrives.