Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Dr. Jay Hess, dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine since 2013, plans to step down from the position in July 2026, the school announced late last week.
Hess will also leave his position as IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs.
Hess is one of the longest-serving medical school deans in the country. The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the United States, based on its enrollment of nearly 1,500 students. It also has more than 3,500 full-time faculty members.
“Jay Hess has been a visionary leader whose dedication to academic excellence and collaboration with IU Health has created a legacy that will benefit Indiana for generations,” Pamela Whitten, president of IU, said in written remarks. “We are deeply grateful for his service and commitment.”
Hess is credited with overseeing several “bold initiatives” at the school, including the opening of the 326,000-square-foot Medical Education and Research Building and the launch of the IU Health Unified Medical Group, a consolidation of five separate medical groups within the IU Health network.
During his tenure, Hess recruited 26 new department chairs and increased IU School of Medicine total research funding by $300 million, to more than $500 million annually, the school said. He also raised National Institutes of Health funding from $97 million to more than $250 million, moving the school’s national rank from 42nd to 29th.
The medical school class grew by 30% under Hess and the number of residency positions statewide grew 25%.
Under Hess, the school established the Brown Center for Immunotherapy, the Vera Bradley Center for Breast Cancer Research and the Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health. It also launched the Engineering in Medicine Initiative with Purdue University.
“It has been a privilege and the high point of my career to serve this institution and to work alongside so many talented, dedicated and inspiring people,” Hess said in announcing his decision. “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished and am deeply grateful for the community who made that possible.”
In 2021, due to his efforts in leading IU’s COVID response, Brater was awarded the IU President’s Medal by former IU President Michael McRobbie, the highest honor bestowed by IU’s president.
Hess succeeded Dr. Craig Brater, who retired after 13 years as dean. Before joining IU, he served as professor and chair of the Department of Pathology in the University of Michigan Health System.
IU said a national search for the next dean will be launched in August.
“I’ve worked with nine deans in my career, and Jay stands out among them for his collaborative spirit, his practical problem solving, his ability to recruit and retain the best medical talent in the country, and his unimpeachable character,” Indiana University Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy said in written remarks. “IU Health and the IU School of Medicine are able to move the needle on our state’s health more effectively when we work together to do hard things, and Dean Hess has been a great partner in that effort.”
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.