The University of California Board of Regents approved today (July 18) Dr. Carrie L. Byington as the next executive vice president of UC Health, comprised of UC’s five academic medical centers, a community-based health system and 18 health professional schools.

Byington has been a clinician and educator her entire career, and her research spans the spectrum from basic laboratory to health systems science. Since 2017, she has concurrently served as vice chancellor for health services at the Texas A&M University System, a multi-institution public university system; senior vice president of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center; and the Jean and Thomas McMullin professor and dean of the Texas A&M College of Medicine.

Prior to joining Texas A&M in 2017, Byington spent more than 20 years in teaching and leadership positions with the University of Utah, most recently as associate vice president, faculty and academic affairs, with the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, and principal investigator for the Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences.

“Dr. Byington is an impressive leader and the ideal candidate, with extensive experience in both the business and academic arenas of a large health system,” said UC President Janet Napolitano. “Her unwavering commitment to education, research and clinical service management aligns perfectly with UC’s mission. We are lucky to have her on board.”

Byington is a thought leader in academic medicine who is committed to care that improves access and value, while mitigating health disparities. She has been a strong advocate and mentor for women and other underrepresented minorities in medicine, especially those aspiring to become physician scientists. Byington is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and National Academy of Inventors.

“I am honored to be returning to the University of California,” said Byington. “The system is well-positioned to lead meaningful transformation that can further improve the health and lives of all those in our state and nation. I look forward to working with the many talented students, faculty and staff to achieve these ambitious goals.”

As executive vice president for UC Health, Byington will provide strategic direction, oversight, guidance and development for the country’s largest health sciences educational system that encompasses 12 hospitals, more than 3,900 licensed beds, nearly 5,600 medical residents, and 14,000 students across 18 health professional schools on seven campuses. In conjunction with the leadership on the campuses, UC Health operates five academic medical centers in Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, as well as UC Riverside Health, a community-based health system. UC Health also provides clinical oversight of the student health and counseling centers on campuses, and performs administrative responsibilities for the self-funded health plans offered to university employees.

The search committee was chaired by UC San Francisco Chancellor Dr. Sam Hawgood; other members included UC Regent Sherry Lansing, California Health Care Foundation President Sandra Hernández, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May, Napolitano and campus representatives.

“Dr. Byington’s stellar credentials immediately stood out — she is an accomplished clinician, teacher, researcher and principal investigator,” according to Lansing. “As a national leader in academic medicine, I have no doubt that Dr. Byington will lead UC to even more path-breaking success and innovative medical research on all of our campuses.”

Byington received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Texas A&M University and doctor of medicine from Baylor College of Medicine, both with honors. Byington trained in pediatrics at Texas Children's Hospital and in pediatric infectious diseases at UC San Francisco.

In addition to her leadership role at UC Health, Byington will have a tenured faculty position in pediatrics at UC San Francisco. Byington will start on Oct. 31 and report directly to Napolitano. She succeeds Dr. John D. Stobo, who is retiring in fall 2019 after 11 years with the university and more than four decades in the clinical and academic health science fields.

Byington will receive an annual base salary of $869,800.