Job Announcement: Dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) invites inquiries, nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (DGSOM). An internationally recognized leader in research, medical education, patient care and community service, DGSOM consists of seven basic science departments and 17 clinical departments. DGSOM, which has an operating budget of approximately $3.5 billion, has 3,300 faculty, 1,300 residents, 850 medical students and 348 Ph.D. students.

DGSOM is part of UCLA Health, which includes more than 250 outpatient clinics; four world-renowned hospitals including the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA; nine affiliated institutions including Cedars-Sinai, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Kern Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Orthopaedic Institute for Children, Pomona Valley Medical Center, the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and the Venice Family Clinic; five organized research units; the UCLA Faculty Practice Group; and a number of large centers and institutes, which address topics such as cancer, stem cell and regenerative medicine, neurosciences and precision health. Opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations abound, given the school’s close proximity and access to UCLA’s other professional schools and programs in the health sciences, life sciences, law, management and public affairs; dedicated biomedical, bioengineering and other bioscience teaching and research facilities; and interdisciplinary units.

As the chief executive and academic officer for DGSOM, the dean provides strategic vision for and operational leadership of the school, conceiving and managing policy, programs and resource allocation to achieve its mission. Building on deep academic strength, the dean sets the standard of intellectual engagement and accomplishment for DGSOM, creating an environment and community that supports the school’s faculty, research agenda, students, residents and patient care. The dean ensures that the school continues to provide academic and scholarly programs of the highest quality and effectiveness, enhancing excellence through diversity in educational programs and faculty and student recruitment; fostering interdisciplinary approaches; promoting educational, clinical, research and professional development opportunities for a diverse student body; and expanding funded programs of national distinction. The dean has responsibility for the fiscal integrity of the medical school, providing leadership for fundraising and capital development programs. In addition, the dean is the public voice for the school, communicating its goals, mission and initiatives within and beyond UCLA; articulating its contributions in local, state, regional, national and international arenas of medicine, health care and health policy; and promoting community-engaged scholarship, education and clinical care in the diverse communities in and beyond Los Angeles.

The dean reports to the vice chancellor for health sciences as a member of UCLA Health’s (UCLA Health System and DGSOM) senior leadership team and reports to the executive vice chancellor and provost (EVCP) on academic matters related to research, education, faculty and students. The dean serves on UCLA’s deans council and council of professional school deans, collaborating with the chancellor, EVCP, vice chancellors and vice provosts, deans and department chairs at UCLA and across the University of California system. As a member of UCLA’s health sciences council, the dean collaborates with the deans of dentistry, nursing and public health and with the vice chancellor for health sciences in fostering opportunities for education, research and service across the health professions, as well as with the dean of life sciences and representatives from affiliated institutions.

We seek a visionary leader to build upon DGSOM’s tradition of excellence, enhance its diversity, and further advance scholarship, education and civic engagement. The ideal candidate will be a nationally recognized scholar with substantial administrative experience; exhibit a strong commitment to medical education and scholarship; and have the capacity to exercise policy leadership at local, state, national and international levels. Minimum requirements include: a record of distinguished teaching, research and public service; significant administrative leadership, preferably in a research university; proven success in — or aptitude for — external and alumni relations and development; an established record of advancing equity, diversity and inclusion; demonstrated success in the mentorship of a diverse student body; and credentials that merit appointment at the rank of full professor.

Situated on 419 acres, five miles from the Pacific Ocean, UCLA is enriched by the cultural diversity of the dynamic greater Los Angeles area, as well as the geographic advantages of Southern California. One of the world’s preeminent public research universities, UCLA is an international leader in breadth and quality of academic, research, health care, wellness, cultural, continuing education and athletic programs, with more than 5,200 faculty members who teach approximately 47,500 students in the UCLA College and 12 professional schools. UCLA is consistently ranked among the top institutions nationally for research funding, having generated $1.7 billion in research grants and contracts in the last fiscal year alone.

Confidential review of applications, nominations and expressions of interest will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. Address nominations, inquiries and applications to our Isaacson, Miller consultants David Bellshaw, Ernest Brooks, Carley Davenport and Tiffany Weber via the Isaacson, Miller website. To be ensured full consideration, please submit a letter of interest — including a diversity statement — and curriculum vitae by January 5, 2023.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.