For Sylvia Bartley, PhD, a career spanning nearly four decades has been shaped by a recurring question: How can she use her experience to make a meaningful difference for the institutions and communities she serves?
That question has guided her from scientific research in London to global leadership in medical technology, philanthropy and academic medicine. Now, as vice president for Strategy and Institutional Transformation and associate professor for Educational Leadership at WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed), she sees an opportunity to help shape the medical school’s next chapter. Dr. Bartley began her role on September 14, 2026.
“WMed is an institution that has done so much over the last 15 years for learners and the community,” Dr. Bartley said. “But here’s the kicker, there are opportunities to do more. We are coming of age and I believe I can help the institution get to its next phase.”
Born in London to parents who migrated from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1950s, during the Windrush era, when people from across the Caribbean were encouraged to seek opportunities in the UK and contribute to the country’s postwar rebuilding efforts. Dr. Bartley grew up with a strong emphasis on education and a commitment to hard work. Those values helped shape her path into science and healthcare.
Her career began in 1988 at St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, where she worked in research and teaching. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of East London and a PhD in neurophysiology from St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Drawn to opportunities to work alongside clinicians and contribute to patient care, she subsequently moved into the medical technology industry.
Following a role in vascular intervention at Biotronik, Dr. Bartley joined Medtronic, where she spent more than 20 years in leadership positions spanning the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States. Her work included neurosurgical technologies, deep brain stimulation, global strategy, physician education and training.
In 2010, she relocated to the United States with her teenage daughter. Based in Minneapolis, she led global neurosurgical strategy for DBS and worked with physicians, healthcare systems, patients and other stakeholders worldwide.
Her later roles included global director for Medical Education and Training and senior director of the Medtronic Foundation. At the foundation, she helped advance philanthropic initiatives, oversaw Medtronic’s Global Disaster Response, health equity frameworks and approaches to medical education intended to strengthen care and training in under-resourced health systems.
Her contributions have been recognized through several honors, including seven consecutive appearances, from 2019 through 2025, on Britain’s Power List of the 100 Most Influential People of African Caribbean Heritage. In 2023, she received the Power List PwC Purpose Award for her commitment to addressing health, education and economic disparities and is a 2014 Bush Fellow. She is also the author of “Turning the Tide: Neuroscience, Spirituality and My Path Toward Emotional Health.”
After leaving Medtronic, Dr. Bartley served as Chief of Staff at JSI Research and Training Institute in Boston before joining Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta as Chief of Staff and Strategy Transformation. There, she served as a strategic advisor to J. Adrian Tyndall, who subsequently became WMed’s Hal B. Jenson, MD Dean, President and CEO. In addition to her strategic leadership responsibilities, Dr. Bartley served as an Executive Coach to senior faculty, supporting their leadership development, professional growth, and effectiveness in navigating the complexities of academic medicine.
“In every role I undertake, it is important that I continue to learn, grow, and evolve, both personally and professionally,” Dr. Bartley said. “For me, leadership is about continuous growth, meaningful contribution, and making a lasting impact. My time at Morehouse School of Medicine was particularly enriching. It challenged me to think differently, embrace new perspectives, and navigate a unique institutional culture with its own opportunities and complexities. I grew tremendously through those experiences, both as a leader and as a person, and I will always value the relationships, lessons, and sense of community that became such an important part of my journey.”
Although the opportunity to work with Dr. Tyndall again was appealing, Dr. Bartley said her decision to join WMed was grounded in her own assessment of the institution, its culture, values, the communities it serves and whether she felt confident enough that she could make a sustainable impact at WMed and the community it serves.
“I really looked at the culture, the values, and the impact I could have,” she said. “And when I came here, I saw that this was a place that mirrored all of my values and it’s a great community.”
Since arriving in Kalamazoo, Dr. Bartley has prioritized listening and building relationships. She has met with WMed senior leaders, colleagues at Western Michigan University and community partners, including the Family Health Center and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. She has also participated in local events, including the Bronson Children’s Hospital Run & Walk and the Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch of the NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund Banquet.
These conversations are informing her approach to the medical school’s next strategic plan. Her initial focus is on developing an inclusive planning process, the tools and communication structures needed to support it, and strategic goals aligned with WMed’s mission, vision, values, institutional capacity and budget.
For Dr. Bartley, institutional strategy is inseparable from relationships and community engagement. Having served on several community boards in Minneapolis and Atlanta, she hopes to contribute similarly in Kalamazoo, particularly through opportunities connected to education.
“Education is a pathway to endless possibilities,” she said.
Beyond work, she enjoys the WNBA and Unrivaled basketball, movies, theater, exercising with her trainer and live music. Her two adult children live in England, and she looks forward to exploring the Great Lakes region, including planned train trips to Chicago and Detroit.
As she settles into her role, Dr. Bartley said the welcome she has received has reinforced her sense that she has come to the right place at the right time.
“I am grateful for the warmth, kindness, and generosity of spirit that I have experienced since arriving at WMed and in the Kalamazoo community,” Dr. Bartley said. “What has been particularly meaningful is the genuine openness to collaboration, the willingness to build relationships, and a shared commitment to making a difference. I feel truly welcomed, inspired by the people I have met, and excited about what we can accomplish together.”