University of Florida College of Medicine names interim dean

Jennifer L. Hunt, M.D., M.Ed., has been appointed interim dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine, beginning Jan. 2.

Hunt, who serves as chair of the college’s department of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine and UF Health Shands chief of staff, brings a wealth of administrative experience to the role. At UF Health, she has directed credentialed medical staff and served as the chief medical administrative officer, advising on clinical policies and best practices. She has also been responsible for the application and enforcement of the bylaws, policies, rules and regulations of the hospital and its medical staff, and for the oversight of the Medical Executive Committee and the Credentials Committee.

As interim dean, Hunt will oversee the continued growth in the college’s academic missions, implementation of the new faculty compensation plan, expansion and clinical integration of the quality and patient safety initiative, clinical service line development, programs for faculty and staff retention, strategic expansion of the research enterprise and innovation in educational programs.

The UF College of Medicine, Florida’s highest-ranked medical school and No. 14 among all public medical schools in the country, is the largest college within UF Health, with 28 research-oriented and clinical science departments and the School of Physician Assistant Studies.

“We are delighted that Dr. Hunt will serve as our interim dean. She brings to the role a longstanding wealth of experience, leadership and a deep commitment to advancing the core missions of the College of Medicine,” said David Nelson, M.D., UF’s senior vice president for health affairs and president of UF Health. “Her outstanding contributions to UF Health as a chair and chief of staff make her the ideal candidate to lead the college during this period.”

An internationally known head and neck and molecular pathologist, Hunt joined UF in 2020 after serving for nearly a decade as the Aubrey J. Hough Endowed Professor and chair of pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she was also the chief of staff, chair of the credentials committee and chair of the professionalism committee. In her role as chief of staff, she created a robust structure for credentialing providers and developed a streamlined monitoring and competency system for the practice.

She has authored more than 160 peer-reviewed scientific publications in her subspecialty and has also published on medical staff affairs, professional practice evaluation and quality improvement. She is a fellow of the College of American Pathologists and has served in elected board of director roles for various organizations, including the Association for Molecular Pathologists, the Association of Pathology Chairs and the Florida Society of Pathology.

Hunt received her medical degree and a concurrent master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also completed a residency in anatomic pathology and a fellowship in molecular genetic pathology. She has held academic appointments and leadership roles at the University of Pittsburgh, the Cleveland Clinic and Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital.

“It is truly a privilege to step into this role, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with our incredible faculty, staff and students to contribute to the legacy of the College of Medicine,” said Hunt. “Together, we will continue pursuing the highest standards of excellence across our educational, research and patient care missions.”

Hunt took on a pivotal role in UF Health and the College of Medicine’s COVID-19 response, leading efforts to provide viral testing for the entire university. Under her guidance, the department of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine went from performing 300 to 500 tests a day to an all-time high capability of performing of over 9,000 tests in January 2021.

In addition to her medical expertise, Hunt is an International Coach Federation-trained and certified executive coach. She has deep experience with coaching in health care, with a particular emphasis on coaching for leadership development and professionalism.