SUBJECT:

Appointment for Vice Chancellor – Health Sciences David A. Brenner, MD and Interim Dean – School of Medicine Steven Garfin, MD

I am pleased to announce the appointment of David A. Brenner, MD as Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences and the appointment of Steven Garfin, MD, as Interim Dean of the School of Medicine.

The decision to split the Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences and the Dean of the School of Medicine positions was based on one of the recommendations of Vice Chancellor Brenner’s five year review committee.

As our clinical, research and educational capabilities have grown tremendously in the health sciences, so has the scope of the roles of Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine. In an effort to meet the growing commitment to create the best health enterprise with strong research and clinical care, the positions of Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine will be separated effective April 15, 2018.

David A. Brenner, MD, has served as Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine at UC San Diego since 2007. During his tenure at UC San Diego, Health Sciences has seen major growth in facilities and research programs including the addition of the Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center, T. Denny Sanford Medical Education and Telemedicine Building, Biomedical Research Facility II, Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Jacobs Medical Center and the newly opened Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion. Dr. Brenner also recruited stellar faculty, helped place us in the top 10 nationally in NIH research funding, directed an innovative evolution in our medical school curriculum, and overseen advances in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

In his continued role as Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences, Dr. Brenner will focus on the overarching strategy for all of health sciences with particular emphasis on UC San Diego’s clinical enterprise and building collaboration with research and enhancing research opportunities. Health sciences includes UC San Diego Health, School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as a new program in public health.

Steven Garfin, MD, will serve as Interim Dean of the School of Medicine. An internationally recognized leader in academic orthopedic surgery, Dr. Garfin joined UC San Diego School of Medicine in 1981 and has served as Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery since 1997. Dr. Garfin has been an important, influential contributor to our ongoing achievement and success at UC San Diego Health through his leadership, administrative skills and clinical accomplishments. As interim dean, Dr. Garfin will lead the School of Medicine and provide oversight for all School of Medicine academic and clinical departments, as well as the research units. He will directly oversee the school’s educational mission, provide leadership to all School of Medicine councils, and collaborate with the other deans across UC San Diego. This interim appointment will continue until a permanent dean is recruited through a national search.

UC San Diego, like other institutions nationally, faces significant challenges and changes in the ever evolving health care environment. To help us navigate and position ourselves for the future, I will appoint a Chancellor’s health advisory committee to offer guidance and feedback to the Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences, Chief Executive Officer for Health System and me.

Please join me in congratulating Vice Chancellor Brenner and Interim Dean Garfin for their contributions and commitment to UC San Diego.

In closing, I would like to thank the five-year review committee and its chair, Shankar Subramaniam, for their efforts in this comprehensive, thoughtful and thorough review process. The committee’s recommendation with several options proved to be invaluable in the decision process.

Pradeep K. Khosla Chancellor