The Dean of the College of Medicine serves as the chief academic and operating officer for all Central Michigan University (CMU) College of Medicine (College) affairs and the CMU Health-Mount Pleasant campus clinics. The Dean is responsible for the executive administration of the College, and provides visionary leadership in the development of strategic initiatives and participates in university long-term planning and policy setting. The Dean leads the College in external affairs including affiliated hospitals, foundations and cultivating relationships with donors. The Dean, in coordination with their senior leaders, promotes the research mission of the College, including expanding and diversifying the research portfolio and enhancing community relationships. The Dean is responsible for developing and approving the College budget, monitoring its financial performance and ensuring its short- and long-term fiscal health. The Dean also serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for CMU Medical Education Partners. The Dean reports directly to the Provost and Executive Vice President and is a member of the Provosts Advisory Council and CMUs Senior Leadership Team.

A doctoral degree (M.D., D.O., and/or Ph.D.) in a relevant field including biomedical sciences, health education, or a related discipline is required.
Significant administrative experience and accomplishments at US medical school(s) and rural academic health center(s).
A record of distinguished academic and nationally recognized scholarly achievement consistent with eligibility for a faculty appointment in the College of Medicine at the level of a full professor.
Demonstrated ability to build and nurture partnerships with health systems and hospitals, contributing to enhanced clinical education experiences and research opportunities.
Direct experience in clinical care with a demonstrated understanding of the elements that contribute to excellence in clinical practice and patient care.
Strategic and visionary leader with demonstrated experience leading a complex medical education and/or healthcare organization.
Demonstrated administrative experience in medical education accreditation (e.g., Liaison Committee on Medical Education and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Senior leadership experience in complex academic health settings (medical school, academic health system, or comparable environment), ideally including community-based medical education models.
Management and operational success in complex organizations (including financial oversight strategic planning, and multi-site operations) with the ability to navigate university processes.
Demonstrated success in building external partnerships, fundraising, and securing philanthropic, governmental, or industry support, especially in tuition-drive environments.
Commitment to community-engaged education, rural health, and creating an environment where university community members can thrive.
Highly effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, and proven ability to build consensus among stakeholders including faculty, students, clinical partners, and community leaders.
Strong relationship-building skills necessary to represent the College, regionally and statewide, with emotional intelligence and authenticity in leadership.

Ability to identify and articulate priorities across diverse contexts and to manage resources and guide their allocation to meet those priorities.
Demonstrated success in recruitment, development, and retention of undergraduate and graduate medical education personnel and faculty.
Commitment to excellence on both a personal and professional level, with the highest standards of personal integrity and ethics.
Experience promoting and securing extramural research funding and fostering interdisciplinary basic, clinical, and translational research programs, with the awareness of the challenges and opportunities in rural and underserved settings.
Experience with interprofessional education and collaborative practice models.

Models CMUs Leadership Standards and foster a culture of excellence, integrity, and collegiality.
Oversees the Colleges medical education program, ensuring high-quality curricula and the implementation of appropriate assessment and continuous quality improvement to maintain and exceed accreditation standards.
Strengthens and manages strategic relationships with clinical affiliates and hospital partners - including CMU Medical Education Partners and regional health systems - to expand and safeguard undergraduate and graduate medical education, with a focus on clinical placements, hospital-based training, rural rotations, and experiences in underserved communities.
Manages administrative functions including human resources, budget and finance, facilities planning and resource allocation to ensure current and long-term financial sustainability.
Leads faculty development, performance appraisal, and practices that support recruitment and retention of outstanding educators and trainees.
Oversees and advances the Colleges research mission: foster interdisciplinary, basic, clinical, and translational research and promote acquisition of extramural funding.
Ensures clinical programs deliver high-quality patient care and integrate seamlessly with educational and research missions.
Supports the Colleges financial stewardship in an environment of constrained resources and lean operational structures, while advocating for strategic investment and growth.
Partners with CMU Advancement to lead fundraising efforts and actively cultivate donor and external partner relationships, including alumni engagement and philanthropic support for strategic initiatives.
Engages community partners to improve population health through outreach, advocacy, and engaged scholarship.
Provides the President, Provost, other institutional officers, including the Board of Trustees, information and authoritative advice on statewide healthcare issues and represent the College to state and national leaders.
Serves as a visible and engaged leader across CMUs multi-site footprint, with a commitment to regional collaboration.
Leads strategic and business planning for CMU Health-Mount Pleasant campus clinics and drive continuous improvement of services, policies, and operational performance.
Provides leadership support to other deans and administrators overseeing clinical services and unify strategic brand messaging for all CMU Health-Mount Pleasant campus clinics.
Provides the highest level of oversight of the university as a covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), including active collaboration with the HIPAA privacy officer and the application and implementation of HIPAA-related policies.
Strengthens CMUs role as a collaborative anchor institution in the Great Lakes Bay Region by expanding residency capacity and clinical training sites across Michigan, including key partnerships in Lansing (University of Michigan Health-Sparrow), Detroit (Detroit Medical Center), and other regional locations.
Champions the development of educational research and scholarship, recognizing the diverse interests and expertise of CMUs faculty.
Represents the College in university-wide initiatives and contribute to CMUs broader research ecosystem.
Builds bridges across CMUs academic units to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and shared strategic goals.
Champions CMUs mission and value proposition to internal and external stakeholders, including efforts to strengthen enrollment, retention, and institutional reputation.

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others in our teams. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve leadership abilities and demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMUs culture of excellence.

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, masters, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 mens and womens Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. Its part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the states largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions - Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more - are within easy reach of the citys central location in Michigans Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMUs mission, vision, and leadership standards.


Korn Ferry is assisting Central Michigan University with this critical recruitment. Applications should include a detailed curriculum vitae and a letter of interest. To ensure full consideration, inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to anna.flagg@kornferry.com. Please also reach out to Anna Flagg with Korn Ferry if you would like to see a comprehensive position profile.