Executive Dean appointed
Professor Mark Kearney has been appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health.
Having held the post in an interim capacity since March 2021, Professor Kearney will take up the role with immediate effect.
Mark is British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research and a clinical cardiologist with an interest in the mechanisms underlying diabetes-related heart disease, as well as the natural history and new treatments for patients with heart failure. He has held leadership roles within the School of Medicine for many years, including that of Dean.
‘Amazing privilege’
Professor Kearney said: “As a Leeds School of Medicine graduate (Class of 1989), and having trained as a doctor in Leeds, I never imagined I would be taking on this role.
“It’s an amazing privilege for me to do so and to work with so many talented and hard-working friends and colleagues across the faculty, our University and health sector partners.
“My overarching vision is that everything we do is structured around a collaborative ‘whole faculty’ approach in order to train and develop the next generation by learning together to work together. I’m committed to creating a learning environment for students to be multi-professionally trained and ready to address health inequalities, and for this to be underpinned by our brilliant research in areas of massive importance to people all over the world.
“My very first job as permanent Executive Dean last week was a chair appointment panel, and it gave me real hope for the future. The chair asked the interviewee why she wanted promotion to professor. She answered (and I summarise) ‘for her team, for the faculty and last of all for herself’. Brilliant!”
Important role
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, said: “I’m delighted Mark has agreed to take on this hugely important role within the University of Leeds.
“He has demonstrated true leadership in his time as Interim Executive Dean, which came during one of the most challenging periods in the University’s history. This was especially the case for those working in the medical profession as they tackled the devastating effects of a global pandemic.
“I’m excited to see Mark’s vision for the faculty develop as a key part of our overall University strategy, playing a significant role in delivering our goals across the themes of community, culture and impact.”