Vikas P. Sukhatme, MD, ScD, dean of Emory School of Medicine, has announced that he will step down as dean of the school and chief academic officer of Emory Healthcare in March 2023 after five years of service in the roles.

He will continue as a full-time faculty member in the School of Medicine, leading the Morningside Center for Innovative and Affordable Medicine (Morningside Center) and contributing to a nascent “Clinics of the Future” initiative as well as teaching.

“Dean Sukhatme has been transformational as leader of the Emory School of Medicine,” says Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. “He set ambitious goals — in training, faculty recruitment and research to treat and cure diseases — and exceeded them. I am grateful for the dedication he showed over the past five years. He elevated the School of Medicine and set it on a path for continued success.”  

As dean of Emory’s largest school, Sukhatme has led more than 3,300 full- and part-time faculty and nearly 2,500 staff members, including more than 1,300 residents and fellows who train in 112 ACGME-accredited programs. The school has more than 1,000 students, with 593 in the MD program and 485 studying in five academic health programs.

During his deanship, Sukhatme’s focus has been on removing barriers to medical innovation and finding new, meaningful ways to integrate research into education and patient care — with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes all over the world.

“Vikas has been an invaluable leader throughout the health sciences with a strong commitment to discovery, education and patient care,” says David S. Stephens, interim executive vice president for health affairs. “While we will greatly miss his contributions and efforts as a member of the leadership team, we are supportive of Vikas’ desire to devote more time to family and delighted that he will continue advancing Emory’s missions, particularly through his work with the Morningside Center.”  

“The School of Medicine, Emory Healthcare, the Woodruff Health Sciences Center and the university at large have benefitted from Vikas’ thoughtful leadership founded on collaboration, innovation and excellence, and his drive to increase SOM’s NIH funding, as well as his gift for recruiting incredible scholars,” says Ravi V. Bellamkonda, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “We are grateful to Vikas for his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and his continued guidance as we continue to build upon the outstanding progress he has made over the past five years.”

Stephens and Bellamkonda noted that next steps for School of Medicine leadership will be announced in the coming weeks in consultation with incoming Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Ravi Thadhani.

In a Nov. 22 message to the School of Medicine community, Sukhatme expressed gratitude for the community’s courage in rising to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as pride in collective progress made toward the school’s Excellence to Eminence strategic plan.

“We have come a long way together … and there is plenty of momentum and support to carry us forward,” he wrote in the message. “I have tremendous confidence in the current and future leadership of President Fenves, Provost Bellamkonda, interim EVPHA David Stephens and incoming EVPHA Ravi Thadhani, as well as the outstanding leadership team in the SOM … We will not miss a beat!”