Denise Jamieson, the chief of gynecology and obstetrics for Emory Healthcare and former Center for Disease Control and Prevention head, has been named vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, beginning Aug. 1.
Dr. Jamieson succeeds Brooks Jackson, who announced in February 2022 his plan to return to faculty and pursue his research once his successor was hired. Brooks Jackson served in the role for six years but agreed remained in the position until a replacement was found.
“I am absolutely thrilled and honored to have this opportunity to lead UI Health Care and Carver College of Medicine,” says Dr. Jamieson in a statement. “The outstanding reputation of the University of Iowa combined with the available UI Health Care resources and reach — including the vital role that UI Health Care plays in shaping health across the state — make this leadership position unique and allow for broad and far-reaching medical and public health impact.”
In addition to her clinical leadership roles, in which Jamieson served since 2019, she was a professor in the department of epidemiology in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory. Her scientific work focuses on emerging infectious diseases in pregnancy and incorporates a population health perspective, with projects addressing health disparities and social determinants of health in the context of maternal morbidity and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, according to a release.
From 1997 to 2017, she worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where she served in a variety of leadership positions, most recently leading the CDC’s Zika emergency response as incident manager. Upon retirement from the U.S. Public Health Service as a captain in July 2017, she received the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award granted to an officer in the Commissioned Corps, for “notable contributions to reproductive health and public health practice.”
“Dr. Jamieson’s rich and diverse background of experiences will allow her to lead UI Health Care as we partner with Iowa communities to expand access to health care,” said UI President Barbara Wilson in a statement. “I was particularly impressed with Dr. Jamieson’s ability to bring people together and create a culture that supports the success of everyone in the organization.”
Dr. Jamieson was one of two candidates who participated in on-campus visits earlier this month.
A nationwide search hit its first road bump when the university suspended its search after a candidate rejected the position in October. The process began again in December.
Executive Vice President Kevin Kregel expects Dr. Jamieson’s experience as a communicator and problem-solver will serve her well in her new position.
“These traits will be of utmost importance as Dr. Jamieson leads our Carver College of Medicine and academic health care system,” says Kregel. “She has an impressive record of research and extensive clinical expertise that will benefit the University of Iowa and the entire state of Iowa.”
Elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2020, Ms. Jamieson received degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University and the University of North Carolina. She then completed postgraduate education in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California at San Francisco and as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer in the Division of Reproductive Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Jamieson’s appointment is pending approval by the Iowa Board of Regents.
