I write to share that J. Larry Jameson, MD, Ph.D., has graciously agreed to serve as Interim President of the University of Pennsylvania, effective immediately. Dr. Jameson has served as Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and dean of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, which together comprise Penn Medicine, since 2011. Jonathan A. Epstein, MD, executive vice dean and chief scientific officer of the Perelman School of Medicine and senior vice president and chief scientific officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, will step in as Interim Executive Vice President for the Health System and dean of the Perelman School of Medicine.
Penn is fortunate to have the benefit of Dr. Jameson’s experience and leadership during this time of transition. A consummate University citizen and the longest serving current dean, Dr. Jameson is a collaborative, innovative, and visionary leader with extensive engagement with each of Penn’s 12 schools. Among other activities, he chaired the review of the School of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Consultative Committees for the selection of the Provost, the dean of the Wharton School, and served on the Presidential Selection Committee. Dr. Jameson has a deep appreciation for Penn’s values and world-class research, teaching, patient care, and service.
As EVP/dean, Dr. Jameson collaborated with health system leadership to spearhead the development and opening of the Penn Medicine Pavilion, a game-changing patient care facility that was the largest capital project in Penn’s history. In the past year, Dr. Jameson led the development of “Serving a Changing World,” which outlines the strategic vision and goals for Penn Medicine for the next five years. At Penn Medicine, Dr. Jameson has also championed initiatives that promote excellence on all levels, including faculty recruitment, student success, scholarship and discovery, philanthropic giving, and a culture of inclusion and collaboration. He has led during a time of unprecedented scientific breakthroughs, FDA approved medications, and transformative platform technologies such as CAR T cell treatment and mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.
Before joining Penn Medicine, Dr. Jameson served for four years as dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Northwestern University. He first joined Northwestern University Medical School in 1993, as chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine. In 2000, he was named Irving S. Cutter Professor of Medicine and chair of the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Jameson received his medical degree with honors and a doctoral degree in biochemistry from the University of North Carolina in 1981. He completed clinical training in internal medicine and endocrinology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Before leaving for Northwestern University, he rose through the ranks at Harvard Medical School to become an associate professor of medicine and chief of the Thyroid Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.
An accomplished physician-scientist, Dr. Jameson has pioneered studies of the genetic basis of hormonal disorders, and he is the author of more than 350 scientific articles and chapters. He is an editor of “Harrison’s,” the most widely used textbook of Internal Medicine. His work has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Genetics, Science, and the Journal of Clinical Investigation. He has served as president of The Endocrine Society and Association of American Physicians, and recently chaired the Board of Directors of the American Association of Medical Colleges. Dr. Jameson has received many distinguished awards, including the Van Meter Award from the American Thyroid Association, the Koch Award from The Endocrine Society, and the Sheen Award from the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Jameson is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.
Please join me in thanking Dr. Jameson for stepping into this role and for guiding Penn during this challenging time.
Best,
Julie Beren Platt
Interim Chair, University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees
To read more University-wide messages, please visit the Penn Today Announcements page.