Announcing the next dean of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine
March 10, 2022 10:32 AM

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Mark S. Cohen, MD, has been selected to serve as the next, permanent dean of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Pending approval by the Board of Trustees, Dr. Cohen’s appointment will begin on May 16, 2022. Dr. Cohen will also hold the position of senior vice president and chief academic officer at Carle Health.

Following a national search for this position, Dr. Cohen emerged as the best candidate to serve as the second dean of the college and to lead its students, faculty and staff in this next critical phase of its future growth and success.

Dr. Cohen is currently a professor of surgery, of pharmacology and of biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan. He serves as the vice chair in surgery for clinical operations, he is the director of the Center for Surgical Innovation, and the director of endocrine surgery research. In the medical school, he serves as the director of the Pathway of Excellence in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which he initiated. He is a recipient of the Faculty Recognition Award for Innovation and of the Provost’s Teaching Innovation Award. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a medical doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his general surgery residency and a National Institutes of Health-sponsored fellowship in endocrine and oncologic surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Throughout his career, Dr. Cohen has established himself as a prolific researcher, an accomplished clinician, a dedicated educator and a true innovator in both the practice and teaching of medicine. His clear vision for advancing the excellence of Carle Illinois, combined with his enthusiasm about the opportunities to further enhance the college’s teaching, research, innovation and service missions, established him as the choice to be the next dean.

I wish to thank Dr. Uretz Oliphant for agreeing to continue in his current role as interim dean of the college through the end of this semester. And I also thank the members of the search committee, chaired by Vice Chancellor Susan Martinis, for their efforts and commitment that led to Dr. Cohen’s appointment.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Mark Cohen and in welcoming him to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as the dean of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.

Sincerely,

Andreas C. Cangellaris
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost