UT System Board of Regents to launch search for new president of UTHealth Houston

University of Texas (UT) System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife has appointed a presidential search advisory committee to support the regents and chancellor on selecting the next president of UTHealth Houston.

Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, MD, UTHealth Houston president and Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair, announced his intention to step down after more than 12 years at the helm. Under his leadership, the institution expanded research, strengthened clinical partnerships, and advanced medical education.

“UTHealth Houston has continued to build a legacy of excellence over more than five decades,” Eltife said. “It stands as a major hub of health education, research and patient care at the epicenter of the largest medical center in the world. Without question, UTHealth Houston will draw extraordinary presidential candidates, and I’m grateful to the search advisory committee members who will support us during this process,” he added.

As one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic health centers, UTHealth Houston has produced top-ranked schools in medicine, nursing, bioinformatics, and behavioral health. Today, its seven schools are major drivers of the state’s health care workforce.

The presidential search advisory committee is composed of individuals selected in accordance with Regents’ Rules and Regulations, which ensures broad representation from the university.

PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION

Board of Regents
Janiece Longoria, Vice Chairman, Houston
Jodie Lee Jiles, Regent, Houston
Stuart W. Stedman, Regent, Houston

UT System
John M. Zerwas, MD, Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Chairman of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

UT presidents
Julie Philley, MD, The University of Texas at Tyler
Jochen Reiser, M., PhD, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

UTHealth Houston dean, faculty, and staff
John Hancock, MA, MB, PhD, ScD, Executive Dean, McGovern Medical School
Kurtis Kasper, PhD, Professor, School of Dentistry
Ross Shegog, PhD, Professor, School of Public Health
Bethany Williams, PhD, Associate Professor, McGovern Medical School
Nena Fairbanks, MBA, Chair, University Classified Staff Council

UTHealth Houston student and alumnus
Vivian Porche, MD, McGovern Medical School Alumni Association
Shreyas Ranganath, Student, McGovern Medical School

External and community members
William C. Shrader, Partner, Shrader & Associates, LLP
Willoughby C. Williams, Member, Memorial Hermann Health System Board of Trustees

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
With 14 institutions that enroll over 256,000 students overall, the UT System is the largest university system in Texas and one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produced over 66,000 graduates last year and awarded more than one-third of the undergraduate degrees in Texas. They also educate more than one-half of the state’s health care professionals with a four-year degree or above and award 63% of the state's medical degrees annually. The combined efforts of UT-owned and -affiliated hospitals and clinics resulted in nearly 10.8 million outpatient visits and more than 2.1 million hospital days in 2023. UT’s $4.3 billion research enterprise is one of the nation’s most innovative, ranking No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the U.S. for both total and federal research expenditures. With an operating budget of $30.9 billion for fiscal year 2025, UT institutions collectively employ more than 160,000 faculty, health care professionals, support staff and student workers.