Dr. Thomas Cesario, dean of the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine and College of Health Sciences, said Thursday that he plans to leave his post as of Nov. 1.
Cesario, 65, has been the medical school’s head since 1995.
Earlier this year, Chancellor Michael Drake created a new job,vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the College of Health Sciences,to oversee both UCI Medical Center and the School of Medicine.
A national search to fill that job is ongoing, the university said in a statement.
Cesario’s announcement comes at a time of turmoil for the university’s medical programs.
Dr. Ralph Cygan stepped down as chief executive of UCI Medical Center in January, in the wake of a burgeoning scandal around its liver transplant program.
UCI closed the liver program after regulators pulled its certification because of mismanagement and poor care,32 patients died while awaiting transplants.
As for Cesario, the dean “played a significant role in UCI’s growth as a major research university,” Drake said.
During his tenure as dean, Cesario’s accomplishments included creating the College of Health Sciences in 2004, which houses programs in nursing science, pharmaceutical sciences and public health, and establishing departments in urology and emergency medicine.
Cesario also oversaw the hiring of more than 70 new research faculty members, along with a hike in research funding.
The medical school’s research funding was less than $40 million before Cesario took over and was $138 million last year.
He plans to remain at UCI and work on developing international teaching and research programs in healthcare. He has been part of UCI’s faculty since 1972.
