Dr. Danny Jacobs Selected as OHSU’s President

The Oregon Health & Sciences University board of directors announced Tuesday it had unanimously approved the selection of Dr. Danny Jacobs , M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., as its fifth president. Jacobs, the executive vice president, provost and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch, will succeed Joe Robertson, M.D., M.B.A., effective Aug. 1.

At UTMB, Jacobs is the chief academic officer, responsible for approximately 3,800 employees and trainees for its schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences. A surgeon by training, Jacobs’ faculty appointments at UTMB include professorships in the Institute for Translational Sciences as well as the departments of Surgery, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health. He also oversees the institution’s research programs. His research interests focus on the metabolic effects of malnutrition, stress, infection and injury; nuclear magnetic resonance applications in organ function, bioenergetics and metabolism; and, specific nutrients and growth factors in enteral (by way of the intestine) and parenteral (administered by some means other than oral or rectal intake) nutritional support.

Jacobs is OHSU’s first African American president.