Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, is the 10th dean of Indiana University School of Medicine and executive vice president for university clinical affairs.

Executive Leadership

Office of the Dean

Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, is the 10th dean of Indiana University School of Medicine.

A graduate of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA is a hematopathologist and one of the nation’s leading researchers in the epigenetics of leukemia. As dean, he has led the nine-campus medical school through a curriculum overhaul and made strategic investments in research that have resulted in a dramatic increase in NIH funding and the availability of advanced therapies for residents of Indiana.

Dean Hess's full profile

Executive Leadership Team

Direct from the Dean

Through his regular columns, Dean Hess shares his thoughts about some of the most important priorities and pressing challenges for IU School of Medicine, the profession and the health of Indiana.

Direct from the Dean

A closer look at the IU School of Medicine 2030 Strategic Plan

I am pleased to share the new strategic plan for IU School of Medicine, made possible through the dedication of our faculty, staff and learners across our nine campuses. This will be our roadmap to advance excellence in all of our missions while supporting Indiana University’s strategic goals.

April 11, 2023

Fall 2024 All School Meeting Recap

2024 Spring All School Meeting Recap

2023: A year of advancements in education, innovation and Hoosier health

This is a medical school that has treated more than 200,000 people for HIV in Africa. This is the institution that pioneered echocardiography, invented the electronic medical record and cured testicular cancer. We introduced regional campuses for medical education. We are a medical school that sets bold goals and achieves them.

Jay L. Hess

Executive Vice President for University Clinical Affairs and Dean of IU School of Medicine

Research Renaissance

NIH funding has increased more than 95 percent over the past five years, and the school’s NIH ranking is currently 29th in the nation and 13th among public medical schools. IU School of Medicine has been widely recognized for its seminal contributions to research related to public health priorities such as Alzheimer’s disease, musculoskeletal health, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Research Expertise

Medical students Taylor Smith and Chevy Singh consult each other during a dissection.

Statewide Training

The school is capitalizing on its statewide footprint and the strengths of its nine campuses to graduate physicians who will serve all Hoosiers. More students are completing clinical rotations outside of Indianapolis, the school is partnering with community hospitals to add residency programs throughout the state, and campuses are developing scholarly concentrations that showcase their unique expertise and prepare students to tackle the most pressing challenges in health care.

Education Programs

a physician laughs and lightly places a hand on the arm of a patient in a wheelchair who is smiling

Leading-Edge Care

IU School of Medicine has moved more than 65 independent physician groups into a single faculty group practice, IU Health Physicians, to improve delivery of care and strengthen the alignment of clinical, education and research missions. As a result, more Hoosiers have access to advanced care and the most promising therapies in the form of clinical research studies.

Clinical Affairs

Attracting Funding

Grantmakers and individual donors have taken note of the school’s ambitious vision and are investing generously in research and other programs. The IU School of Medicine raised more than $1.7 billion as part of For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign, including 99 endowed chairs and professorships and 144 endowed scholarships.

Impact of Giving