A surgeon with an impeccable international reputation will soon be at the helm of Western University's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The medical school announced Monday that its new dean will be Dr. John Yoo.
"Our unanimous decision to appoint Dr. Yoo was informed by several factors, including his reputation as an inspired and collaborative leader who has a demonstrated track-record for driving constructive organizational change,” Western’s Academic Provost and Vice-President Andrew Hrymak said in a statement. “John brings the right mix of values, experience and vision to help realize Schulich Medicine and Dentistry’s potential as a pre-eminent medical and dental school.”
Yoo's appointment comes after a 14-month search to replace former dean Dr. Michael Strong, who left in October 2018 to become president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Since Strong's departure, Dr. Davy Cheng has served as Schulich's acting dean.
After earning his medical degree and completing his residency at the University of Toronto, Yoo came to Western in 1997. He pioneered a new technique for reconstructive facial surgery that has since been adopted worldwide and has served as co-chair of the London Health Sciences Centre’s Facial Nerve Clinic since 2007.
Most recently, Yoo acted as interim chair of Western's department of paediatrics, fellowship director of the department of otolaryngology, and has been one of the school's oncology professors. He was also the longest-serving chair of the Canadian Chairs of Otolaryngology.
“I am excited by the incredible talent and capacity of our faculty, students, and community. I am excited that I will be in a position to advocate and promote the amazing teaching and research that our school does,” said Yoo. “I would ask my colleagues to remain engaged, curious, and passionate in this most important privilege that we have been given: of mentoring the next generation, of advancing new knowledge for the benefit of the world, and for improving the care of the next patients we help.”
Western President Alan Shepard commended the selection committee's choice, calling Yoo a "highly accomplished surgeon and academic leader. Shepard said Yoo will elevate the school to the next level with his "intelligence, drive, and collaborative style."
Yoo will begin his new role as dean on May 1.
