October 30, 2023

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I am writing to announce the retirement of Dr. Stephen J. Spann, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. After more than four decades in academic medicine, including eight years at the University of Houston, Dr. Spann has made the decision to retire.

A family physician leader, educator and researcher, Dr. Spann has dedicated his career to improving health and health care around the world by training future health care professionals, contributing to the scientific knowledge base of primary care and by leading medical school faculty, physician medical groups and hospital staff to practice high-quality, evidence-based medicine.

He was instrumental in the founding of the Fertitta Family College of Medicine, first as its planning dean, an appointment he received in 2015, and then as founding dean, an appointment he received in 2018. Under his leadership, the college received preliminary accreditation in 2020. In addition, he helped lead us through the pandemic as the VP of medical affairs and opened two clinics to bring high-quality health care to our underserved communities. We thank him for his service and passion for the mission of the College of Medicine.

Committed to its continued success, he will be staying on until we find a new dean. A national search for the dean of the college will be chaired by Diane Chase, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, and assisted by Hodges Partners. I will announce members of the search committee in the near future.

Please take a moment to thank Dr. Spann for his contributions to establishing the Fertitta Family College of Medicine and his service to UH. I speak for all faculty, staff and students when I wish him the best.

Warm regards,

Renu Khator
President, University of Houston