Route to the top: A snapshot of deans at US medical schools

The role of medical school dean is exceptionally demanding; deans oversee multiple missions and diverse constituencies, manage budgets of hundreds of millions of dollars and work to maintain their institution’s profile in academic circles and with the philanthropic community.

This study incorporates quantitative research on the educational backgrounds and career paths followed by deans at the 125 NIH-funded medical schools in the United States and commentary from leading medical school deans about the challenges and rewards of the job. They also offer perspectives on why the average dean tenure is so short and how up-and-coming executives can better prepare themselves for the role.

For information about copying, distributing and displaying this work, contact permissions@spencerstuart.com.