This article originally appears in The London Free Press on January 6, 2020 and is written by Jennifer Bieman.
New year, new dean.
After a 14-month search, surgeon John Yoo is taking the reins of Western’s University’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry later this year, the university announced Monday.
“I am excited by the incredible talent and capacity of our faculty, students, and community,” Yoo said in a statement.
“I am excited that I will be in a position to advocate and promote the amazing teaching and research that our school does.”
Yoo is stepping into the role after former dean Dr. Michael Strong left Schulich in October 2018 to become the president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – the federal agency that funds medical research. Dr. Davy Cheng has served as acting dean of the medical school since Strong left.
Yoo has a long history with Schulich. He came to Western in 1997 after earning his medical degree and completing his residency at the University of Toronto.
He was most recently the chair of the Schulich’s pediatric department and fellowship director in the school’s department of otolaryngology, a field of medicine focusing on the ears, nose and throat.
Yoo is also a professor of oncology – the medical field specializing in cancer – at Schulich.
“I have had the great benefit of working hand-in-hand with a broad array of clinicians and scientists within our school,” Yoo said in a statement. “I would ask my colleagues to remain engaged, curious, and passionate in this most important privilege that we have been given: of mentoring the next generation.”
In the operating room, Yoo has done extensive work in facial reconstruction. He has served as the co-chair of London Health Sciences Centre’s facial nerve clinic since 2007.
Yoo has served on the boards and executives of several national and international medical associations, including the Canadian Association of Otolaryngology and the Asia-Pacific Society of Thyroid Surgery.
“John brings the right mix of values, experience and vision to help realize Schulich Medicine and Dentistry’s potential as a pre-eminent medical and dental school,” Western’s academic vice-president Andrew Hrymak said in a statement.
In a statement Monday, Western’s president, Alan Shepard, sang the praises of the newly announced dean.
“We’ve appointed a highly accomplished surgeon and academic leader whose intelligence, drive and collaborative style will help elevate our medical and dental school to the next level,” Shepard said.
Yoo assumes his new role May 1.
