The University of Minnesota has turned to a longtime faculty member to become the new dean of the medical school after the current dean resigned last week.
Dr. Jakub Tolar, who has been on the faculty for 25 years, will take on the top medical school job pending approval by the Board of Regents. Dr. Brooks Jackson, who held the job for three years, announced on Monday that he is leaving for a similar job at the University of Iowa.
Tolar was most recently executive vice dean of the medical school and director of the university's Stem Cell Institute.
"I am confident that Jakub will continue our positive momentum through his energetic commitment to advancing discovery, educating the next generation of health care leaders and leading in high-quality clinical care," said U President Eric Kaler.
Kaler also named Tolar as interim vice president for health sciences "while the University determines an ideal structure for the continued success of our health sciences."
Jackson held both positions during his tenure at the university. In addition to the medical school, health sciences includes the schools or colleges of dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, public health and veterinary medicine.
Originally from the Czech Republic, Tolar came to the University of Minnesota in 1992, where he completed a Ph.D. in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and genetics.
Tolar's research has focused on new ways of treating children with lethal diseases, including cancer and genetic disorders, using stem cell transplantation.
