August 10, 2009

Chancellor Taps Hawgood as Medical School Dean, Appointment Pending Regents' Approval

Sam Hawgood

Chancellor Sue Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, today named Sam Hawgood, MB, BS, as dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs, an appointment that requires approval by the UC Regents.

An international leader in neonatology, Hawgood is physician in chief of UCSF Children’s Hospital and a senior staff member of the Cardiovascular Research Institute. He was named interim dean of the medical school in December 2007.

The chancellor delivered the news in an email letter to the campus community on August 10. Here is her entire message:

Subject: Dean of the UCSF School of Medicine & Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs

August 10, 2009

Dear Colleagues:

Since The Regents approved my appointment as Chancellor, I have been actively engaged in addressing a number of issues, some of the most important of which are appointments to the senior leadership team. After careful review during the past several weeks and based on an extensive search, I am pleased to announce that, subject to Regents’ approval, Dr. Sam Hawgood has agreed to serve as dean of the School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs.

The School of Medicine and the campus as a whole have been fortunate to have Dr. Hawgood in the role of interim dean during the past year and a half. Facing unprecedented financial challenges, he has more than succeeded in his goal of “responding responsibly to short-to-medium term constraints on resources while maintaining an aggressive strategic and solution focus on investments.” His transparency, accountability, and willingness to tackle the most significant challenges, even while in an interim role, have created a level of confidence, cooperation, and respect in the school that can only serve to promote further growth and excellence. Dr. Hawgood has proven himself to be a true leader and the right one for the UCSF School of Medicine at this critical point in our history.

Dr. Hawgood has spent his entire 26-year professional career at UCSF. He is a distinguished physician scientist, professor in the Department of Pediatrics, and associate director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute. In addition to his current service as interim dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Hawgood is chair of the Department of Pediatrics, physician in chief of UCSF Children’s Hospital, and president of the UCSF Medical Group, three roles that he will relinquish after approval of his proposed appointment by The Regents.

Dr. Hawgood graduated from the University of Queensland in Australia with first class honors. He completed his pediatric training at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, and his neonatal fellowship at the Queen Victoria Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and at UCSF.

On behalf of the UCSF community, I thank Sam for his tremendous dedication and accomplishments as interim dean. I know that you will continue to extend your full support to him.

Sincerely,

Susan Desmond-Hellmann, M.D., M.P.H.

Chancellor

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