IU School of Medicine leader finalist for new job in Oregon

The dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine is one of three finalists to become president at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, according to The Oregonian.

Dr. Jay Hess

Dr. Jay Hess, also vice president for university clinical affairs at IU, is in the running to replace Dr. Joe Robertson, who is retiring from OHSU after more than a decade in the position.

Hess, 58, took his positions at IU in 2013 after serving eight years as chairman of the pathology department and professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.

He became the 10th dean in the IU School of Medicine's then-110-year history and the first dean in the past five to come from outside IU. Hess succeeded Dr. D. Craig Brater, who retired after 13 years as dean and 27 years at IU.

IU officials declined to comment on Hess’ interest in the new job.

The Oregonian identified the other finalists at OHSU as Dr. Laura Roberts and Dr. Danny Jacobs.

Roberts is professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of psychiatry for Stanford Health Care.

Jacobs is executive vice president, provost and dean of the school of medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Robertson actually retired from his position in October after being diagnosed with a mild form of multiple sclerosis but has remained in the role until a successor is found.

OHSU is a public university in Oregon with a main campus in Portland that includes two affiliated hospitals. The school has more than 2,700 faculty and 4,000 students.

The OHSU School of Medicine has a faculty of about 1,750. It is one of only two medical schools in Oregon. OHSU also has schools of dentistry and nursing.

IU School of Medicine has nine campuses, more than 1,900 full-time faculty and more than 3,000 physicians who serve as volunteer faculty.