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Appointment of Professor Patricia Houston as Interim Dean and Call for Nominations — Advisory Committee for the Dean, Temerty Faculty of Medicine (PDAD&C #44)

From: Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President and Provost
Date: June 29, 2023
Re: Appointment of Professor Patricia Houston as Interim Dean and Call for Nominations — Advisory Committee for the Dean, Temerty Faculty of Medicine (PDAD&C #44)

I am delighted to announce that the Agenda Committee of Academic Board has approved the appointment of Professor Patricia Houston as Interim Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine from September 1 to December 31, 2023, while Professor Trevor Young is on administrative leave prior to taking up the role of Vice-President & Provost as of January 1, 2024.  

Professor Patricia Houston is a respected leader in medical education nationally and currently serves as the Vice Dean, Medical Education, a role she has held since 2016. She is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine. Professor Houston has served in a number of leadership roles both in the University and at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto).  

Professor Patricia Houston received her MD degree from the University of Toronto, where she also completed her residency training in Anesthesia, and her Master’s in Education. During her time as Vice-Dean, Professor Houston has provided extraordinary leadership in curriculum innovation, enhancing the learning environment and student experience, rising to the many challenges presented by COVID-19, and overseeing two successful accreditation processes. Please join me in thanking Professor Houston for taking on this interim role at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine to provide continuity in leadership.  

Professor Trevor Young has served as Dean, Temerty Faculty of Medicine since 2015. Under Professor Young’s outstanding leadership, the Faculty of Medicine has seen tremendous success. He has promoted excellence at every level and has fostered thriving and mutually beneficial relationships within the healthcare Faculties and with the University’s numerous affiliated hospitals. For more information about his accomplishments, please read more about his appointment as Provost. 

The President and I are forming advisory committee to search for the next Dean. In accordance with Section 60 of the Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators, I am calling for the nominations of individuals to serve on the Committee that will advise on the appointment of a Dean. The Policy mandates the composition of the Advisory Committee as follows: 

  • The Vice-President and Provost (Chair); 
  • Three to five members of the teaching staff of the Faculty; 
  • One to three students of the Faculty; 
  • The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies or representative; 
  • A librarian, where appropriate; 
  • Two or three other qualified scholars from within or outside this University, but outside of the Faculty; 
  • In addition, the Committee may include an alumnus/a, a member of the administrative staff, and a senior member of the appropriate professional community. 

The Advisory Committee will begin meeting in the coming months. Nominations for the Committee should be submitted to the Office of the Vice-President & Provost by July 13, 2023, via the online form. 

Nominations for the role of Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and questions about this search process may be directed to Special Projects Officer Toks Weah at toks.weah@utoronto.ca.