Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, joined Indiana University School of Medicine in 2013 as its 10th dean.

He is responsible for the largest medical school in the United States, with nine campuses, more than 2,000 students, and nearly 7,200 full-time, part-time and volunteer faculty. In addition, he serves as one of four executive vice presidents of Indiana University and is charged with guiding the university’s clinical affairs strategy.

Since becoming dean, he has overseen a 125 percent increase in research funding from the National Institutes of Health, led the school through a comprehensive curriculum reform and successful reaccreditation, and strengthened the relationship with IU Health, its primary clinical partner and one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers. A physician-scientist, Hess is driven to improve care for patients and is guided by a commitment to transforming health in Indiana and around the world.

IU School of Medicine’s major initiatives under Hess’ leadership have included:

• Leading the charge to safely return students, faculty and staff to Indiana University campuses statewide after the unprecedented suspension of most in-person research and instruction at the start of the COVID-19 health crisis

• Enacting a single curriculum that includes interprofessional education and the opportunity to pursue scholarly concentrations on all campuses

• Investing in new educational and research facilities across the state

• Moving over 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

• Implementing the IU Precision Health Initiative, a bold plan to develop new therapies and improve outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma, triple negative breast cancer, diabetes, childhood sarcoma and Alzheimer’s disease

• Bringing leading-edge therapies to Indiana, including genomically-guided therapies and CAR-T immunotherapy

• Securing prestigious Comprehensive status for the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center from the National Cancer Institute

• Expanding residency positions to increase the number of physicians who train and practice in Indiana

• Recruiting top-flight leaders, including 21 new department chairs and five research center and institute directors, both from within IU School of Medicine and from other top tier institutions

• Advancing diversity, inclusiveness and wellness of the faculty, staff and learners

• Raising over $1.7 billion as part of For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign with a focus on endowing chairs, professorships and scholarships

• Developing institution-wide strategic plans in 2014, 2018 and 2022

Education and Career Highlights

Hess earned his medical and doctorate degrees from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed residency training in anatomic pathology and fellowships in hematopathology and surgical pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He holds a certificate in business administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Before moving to Indiana, Hess served for eight years as the Carl V. Weller Professor and chair of the Department of Pathology and professor of pathology and internal medicine at the University of Michigan. He previously served as director of hematopathology at the University of Pennsylvania and as assistant professor of pathology at Washington University School of Medicine.