Announcement: Re-appointment of Dr. John Yoo, Dean of Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Memorandum from Florentine Strzelczyk, Provost & Vice-President (Academic), Western University.
Dr. John Yoo, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
I am very pleased to announce that Dr. John Yoo has been re-appointed Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry for a second term, beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
Informed by feedback gathered from members of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry as well as community and campus partners, the recommendation to renew John’s appointment was advanced with the unanimous support of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s Decanal Review Committee and supported by President Alan Shepard.
Previously serving as Chair of Otolaryngology (2006-2017) and Paediatrics (2018-2020), John was first appointed Dean of Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in May 2020, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Given the pandemic’s impact on clinical learners and the faculty’s health providers, John stepped into this leadership position at a pivotal time, providing guidance and support as the Schulich team navigated its role within this global health emergency.
Through the feedback process, the review committee identified several of John's strengths and achievements throughout his first term as Dean. In addition to launching a new strategic plan for Schulich, Faculty research funding has increased by over 40 per cent, both the medical and dental schools received full accreditation, and the Faculty has begun implementing one of the largest learner and distributed medical education expansions in its history. John is described as an engaging leader and collaborative relationship builder who has helped establish 14 new endowed chairs, attract several new high-performing researchers to Schulich while setting up faculty members for increased research success.
John has identified several priorities for his second term as Dean, which include driving greater research impact and supporting facility infrastructure renewal. In alignment with current and future needs of students and clinical learners, John’s team will explore several programming updates including a reimagined BMSc program and the development of a new, interdisciplinary program in Public Health. With a focus on strengthened relationships with hospital partners, John will also continue the Faculty’s momentum in building a culture of belonging, excellence, and accountability for all members of the Schulich community.
As an internationally renowned head and neck surgeon, John joined Western in 1997 after completing his fellowship in Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery in Toronto. His clinical and academic interests include head and neck oncology, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and management of the paralyzed face. He has developed and popularized reconstructive surgical techniques that have improved the quality of life of patients with head and neck defects and facial disfigurements.
John is Past-President of the Canadian Association of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, the incoming President of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology, and he is Co-Chair of the Committee of Ontario Faculties of Medicine.
I want to thank the members of the Decanal Review Committee: Lisa Cechetto (Executive Director, Western Research), Kevin Chan (Corporate Medical Executive, LHSC), Tracey Crumley (Chair/Chief, of Obstetrics & Gynaecology), Adam Dukelow (Vice-President of Medical & Academic Affairs, St. Joseph’s Health Care London), Jefferson Frisbee (Professor and Department Chair, Medical Biophysics), Lena Ghattas (undergraduate student, medicine), Lisa Henderson (Dean, Faculty of Information and Media Studies), Rosemary Hicks (Associate Director of Finance and Administration, Department of Medicine), Amin Manji (graduate student, basic science), Delaney Mattern (undergraduate student, dentistry), Denis Maxwell(Associate Professor, Department of Biology), Penny Pexman (Vice-President Research), Abdel Rahman Lawendy (Professor, Division of Orthopedic Surgery), Lisa Saksida (Scientific Director, BrainsCAN), and Michael Shimizu(Assistant Professor, Dentistry).
I am grateful for John’s ongoing commitment to Western and look forward to supporting his continued success in leading the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry in the years ahead.
Florentine Strzelczyk
Provost & Vice-President (Academic)
Western University
