Dean of Medicine

University of Washington:
Academic Personnel & Faculty:
School of Medicine:
Dean of Medicine Location

Seattle, WA

Aug 07, 2026

The University of Washington School of Medicine is seeking its next Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Designated Institutional Official (VDGME/DIO or Vice Dean)—a role that sits at the nexus of academic medicine, healthcare delivery, workforce development, and educational innovation. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of the nation’s largest and most influential graduate medical education (GME) enterprises while advancing the mission of an academic health system renowned for its impact across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

As the sponsoring institution for more than 128 ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs, approximately 90 non-ACGME fellowships, and multiple dental residency programs, the University of Washington (UW) oversees the education and development of more than 1,600 unionized residents and fellows annually, making it one of the largest graduate medical education organizations in the United States. The institution ranks among the nation's largest sponsoring institutions by both program count and trainee volume, with a footprint that spans leading academic medical centers, children’s hospitals, Veterans Affairs facilities, community hospitals, and hundreds of affiliated training sites.

What makes this opportunity truly distinctive is the scale and complexity of the University of Washington School of Medicine's five-state education enterprise serving Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI). Covering roughly 27% of the U.S. landmass, WWAMI represents one of the most ambitious and successful regional medical education models in the country. Through more than 420 training sites, including over 260 regional sites and 70 rural sites, UW is uniquely positioned to influence physician workforce development, improve access to care in underserved communities, and address some of the nation’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

The next Vice Dean and DIO will inherit an organization with a strong foundation and national reputation for excellence. UW GME programs maintain the highest levels of accreditation, support a diverse and global trainee community, and have demonstrated a profound impact on the healthcare workforce, with nearly half of recent graduates remaining in the WWAMI region and more than 800 alumni returning as faculty members.

At the same time, the role presents a compelling leadership challenge. Graduate medical education is evolving rapidly amid workforce shortages, changing learner expectations, new accreditation requirements, technological transformation, and increasing financial pressures on academic health systems. Stakeholders across UW Medicine consistently describe a tremendous opportunity for a leader who can strengthen partnerships across the clinical enterprise, advance innovative approaches to physician training, modernize educational models, leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and expand UW's influence as a national leader in graduate medical education.

The Vice Dean and DIO reports to the Executive Vice Dean for Medical Education and Faculty Affairs and serves as a key member of the School of Medicine's senior leadership team, working closely with department chairs, health system executives, hospital leaders, program directors, faculty, residents, fellows, and regional partners to advance a shared vision for the future. The Vice Dean and DIO will engage in issues involving accreditation and educational quality, workforce strategy and healthcare delivery, financial stewardship and policy advocacy, and the human dimensions of leadership that foster trust, collaboration, and a culture of excellence.

University of Washington faculty engage in teaching, research/scholarship, and service. Positive factors for consideration include, but are not limited to, candidates who have substantial direct experience in graduate medical education, faculty development, and leadership.

The Vice Dean and DIO is an integral member of the School of Medicine’s…