The new dean of the University of B.C. medical school is an Irish gastroenterologist who for nearly three years has run one of the worlds top ranked medical schools.

Dr. Dermot Kelleher will move to Vancouver from London, England this summer after he leaves his post there as vice-president, health, and dean of medicine at Imperial College. He will take up his new duties here on Sept. 1.

The medical school at Imperial College, one of the largest in the United Kingdom, is about the same size as UBCs. It is affiliated with a similar number of teaching hospitals and is strongly focused on research. Like UBC, it is highly competitive and selective in its admissions process. According to QS World Universities Rankings, Imperial is ranked 10th out of the top 50 medical schools, while UBC is ranked 39th, third in Canada after the University of Toronto (14th) and McGill (26th).

Recently, Imperial College was engulfed in a controversy. According to British newspaper coverage and reports in the reputable publication Times Higher Education, a medical school professor, Stefan Grimm, took his own life last fall. He left an email that accused unnamed superiors of bullying through demands that he garner more research grants. The college said it would set up an internal inquiry into the circumstances around the toxicology professors death, the results of which have not been released.

Kelleher could not be reached for comment Monday but UBC provost Dave Farrar said the search was global and there were several top-notch candidates. Kelleher, Farrar said, has no personal connections to B.C. but is excited about leading an academic health science network and medical school with satellite campuses throughout the province.

Kelleher will succeed Dr. Gavin Stuart who has been dean for 12 years, overseeing the medical schools successful expansion to Prince George, Kelowna and Victoria. Kelleher, who will be paid about $500,000, said in a news release posted on the medical school website that hes honoured to succeed Stuart:

He has developed a vibrant organization combining excellence in education, biomedical science and population health with the capability to lead internationally in health care delivery.

Kelleher will be at the Vancouver campus March 6 to speak to faculty and students.

UBC medical school accepted its first students in 1950. It has 677 full-time faculty, 6,059 part-time clinical instructors, 1,146 medical undergraduates, and 1,169 postgraduate residents pursuing specialty training.

Sun Health Issues Reporterpfayerman@vancuversun.com

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British doctor is new UBC dean of medicine