Sarah Peyre

Biography

Sarah E. Peyre served as dean of the Warner School of Education and Human Development from July 1, 2020 to June 20, 2024. She remains actively involved as a faculty member in health professions education. In addition to her faculty role at the Warner School, she serves as vice dean of education at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and as an associate vice president for clinical education. While serving as dean, Peyre was appointed by President Mangelsdorf as interim provost in April 2021 serving until June 30, 2022. 

As dean of the Warner School, Peyre helped develop and implement the Warner 2030 Strategic Plan, which included launching the Office of Research and the Office of Student Success. She is also credited with advancing important culture climate work at the school by overseeing the creation of the Warner Council for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, as well as launching several new academic programs including the fully online EdD program in health professions education leadership, a master’s in teaching computer science, an advanced certificate bridge program from school counseling to mental health counseling, and a micro-credentialing professional development program, to meet evolving market needs and offer innovative options.

Prior to joining the Warner School, she was the associate dean for innovative education and professor of surgery, nursing, medical humanities and bioethics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Peyre, who joined the University in 2011, also served as the executive director of the Institute for Innovative Education, where she led advances in health professions education through simulation, adaptive technology, team science, and novel approaches to information and education delivery. The institute, a centralized matrix of services that includes the Miner Library and the Center for Experiential Learning and is supported by IT and educational specialists, supports the educational mission of the University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute of Oral Health, Strong Hospital, and the Faculty Practice Group.

A highly respected medical education scholar, Peyre is well-known for her work in the field of simulation and the development of educational innovations that support collaborative health-care models. Her work in interprofessional education includes curriculum development on disparities in health care, leadership, and technology. She has worked on several educational research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health, Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, Burroughs Welcome Foundation, and others to improve the areas of expertise, teaming, and educational effectiveness. As a 2014 Macy Faculty Scholar, she focused her efforts on identifying, developing, and teaching best practices for integrating electronic medical records into patient- and family-centered care at URMC. Building on the traditions of the University of Rochester, Peyre’s work aims to help nourish humanism alongside technology as educational programs are created that promote effective communication within high performing teams.

Peyre previously served as the director of education and research for the STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, and as assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.  She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and master’s and doctoral degrees from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

Peyre was the recipient of The Rochester Academy of Medicine’s Madeline H. Schmitt, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP Award for Interprofessional Education in 2020 for breaking barriers in health care by continuing to change the landscape of health care education and practice through steadfast teaching of the importance of collaboration and teamwork.