Dear colleagues,
I am excited to announce that the search for the next dean, Faculty of Health has reached a successful conclusion.
The search committee, chaired by Provost Lisa Philipps and comprised of members of the Faculty of Health (faculty, staff and students) and one member appointed by me, undertook an extensive national and international search which attracted outstanding candidates for this key position in our University. On May 3, the Board of Governors concurred with my recommendation that Dr. David Peters be appointed to the position of dean, Faculty of Health for a five-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2023.
Dr. David Peters. Photograph: Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Peters comes to York from Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he is currently Edgar Berman Professor and Chair in International Health and is cross appointed to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Division of Infectious Diseases and the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and also serves as director, Alliance for a Healthier World. He holds an MD from the University of Manitoba and a doctorate in public health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He has been a faculty member at Johns Hopkins University since 2002, during which time he has also held senior specialist positions with the World Bank as part of his active practice working to improve the performance of health systems in low- and middle-income countries, especially addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable. At Johns Hopkins, Dr. Peters is affiliated with the Bloomberg School's Department of International Health, which he has chaired since 2013, and the Center for AIDS Research, the Center for Global Health, and the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins. He also holds an adjunct appointment with the International Institute of Health Management and Research, Delhi, and participates in numerous high-level societies, boards and professional and scholarly associations.
A prolific researcher with an h-index of 57, he has published eight books, 22 book chapters, and more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles and a large number of reports and reviews - including hundreds of peer review activities for journals, books and the World Bank - and has been cited more than 15,000 times. Dr. Peters is presently principal investigator and co-investigator for seven international research projects valued at over U.S. $20 million and has previously completed nearly 30 such primary and collaborative health research undertakings. His work has been occupied largely with capacity building and the promotion of health and equity on a global scale. Strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, social justice and human rights, Dr. Peters has also worked directly and collaboratively with Indigenous communities in both Canada and the U.S. on clinical and population health projects.
With extensive academic and administrative leadership experience, Dr. Peters joins York at a pivotal moment for the Faculty of Health as it continues an exciting trajectory of success, fulfilling its mission to enhance human health, health equity, health care and well-being. Home to 10,00-plus students, 200-plus full-time faculty, and 20,000-plus alumni globally, the Faculty is committed to excellence in research, teaching and learning and community service. Dr. Peters will bring his skill in strategic planning and development and his extensive international relationship network to the Faculty and to York as he returns to his home country and continues to build his view of the academy as the vanguard for science in public health and well-being.
I would like to thank the members of the search committee for their contributions to this important process. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Susan Murtha, who has ably served as interim dean, Faculty of Health since March 1 and will continue in that role through Dec. 31, 2022.
I know that all members of the University will join me in congratulating and welcoming Dr. Peters. I look forward to working with him in the coming years as a core member of the University's academic leadership team as the Faculty of Health continues to deliver on its mission to keep more people healthier longer.
Rhonda Lenton
President and Vice-Chancellor
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
