Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice dean and interim dean of the School of Medicine, and Dr. James Keeton, chief of staff to the vice chancellor for health affairs and interim vice chancellor for health affairs, hold a town hall meeting to discuss the next vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

The Search Process

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is seeking to fill the position of Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine. This has traditionally been a joint position held by a single individual and it will remain so in the future. The position reports to the chancellor of the University of Mississippi.

The position was vacated June 30, 2009, following the appointment of the former vice chancellor, Dr. Dan Jones, as chancellor of the University of Mississippi. Dr. Jones held the position since 2003.

Dr. James E. Keeton is serving as interim vice chancellor for health affairs and Dr. LouAnn Woodward is serving as interim medical school dean. Dr. Keeton was formerly the vice chancellor's chief of staff and Dr. Woodward is vice dean of the medical school.

A search committee headed by Dr. Woodward is currently considering candidates for the position, with the assistance of an executive recruitment firm, Witt/Kieffer. An initial group of candidates will be invited to campus in November and early December. A subset of those candidates is then expected to make a second visit to campus in December and early January. Information about candidates making a second visit will be posted online, and they will be asked to make a presentation to the greater campus community during their visit.

After those visits, the search committee will forward the names of between two and four candidates to Chancellor Jones, who will make the final selection. It is hoped that the process will be completed by the end of January.