AAIM Higher!

Ronald Robertson MD, FACS , has been appointed interim dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, effective May 1. Dr. Robertson previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the medical school, where he has been a faculty member since 1996.

David D. McManus, has been appointed chancellor of UMass Chan Medical School. The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees unanimously approved UMass President Marty Meehan’s nomination of Dr. McManus at a special meeting on Tuesday, April 7.

Vera P. Luther, MD, MS, has been named as the new section chief of infectious disease and international health in the department of medicine at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC).

Bruce D. Levy, MD, has been named executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and the George and Carol Bauer Dean of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis — one of the nation’s top medical schools. He begins his new role July 1.

Michelle Ng Gong, MD, MS, has been appointed Chair of the Montefiore Einstein Department of Medicine. Dr. Gong, who was selected after a national search, has served as Interim Chair since May 2025.

Roy Herbst, MD, has been appointed the Dartmouth Cancer Center's sixth Director. He will lead integrated efforts to help strengthen cancer research, education, and collaboration across Dartmouth and Dartmouth Health, expand access to advanced treatments and clinical trials, and continue to elevate cancer care in Southern New Hampshire, throughout New England, and beyond.

Jeffrey S. Berns, MD, has been announced as Thalamus' first Chief Academic Officer (CAO) effective September 1, 2026. Dr. Berns will begin advising the company in the coming months before transitioning into the full-time role later this year.

Everardo Cobos, MD, has been named permanent dean of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine; Dr. Cobos serving in the role of interim dean since May 2025.

David Vermette, MD, MBA, MHS, announced as one of the five 2026 Macy Faculty Scholars. Peter Goodwin, Interim President and Treasurer, said, "Each member of the 2026 class of Macy Faculty Scholars voiced a deep and oftentimes personal connection to their proposed project, and we are eager to support them in their scholarly efforts."

Anna Hemnes, MD, has been named chair of the Department of Medicine and system physician-in-chief for Vanderbilt Health. Her appointment was effective Jan. 1..

Tisha S. Wang, MD has been named chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, starting June 1, 2026. In addition to her new role, she will also join the UW Medicine executive leadership team as associate vice president of Clinical Transformation.