Thomas E. Jackiewicz has been appointed the new president of the University of Chicago Medical Center and chief operating officer of the UChicago Medicine health system, effective Aug. 31, 2020.

Jackiewicz joins UChicago Medicine after serving as chief executive officer for Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California and a senior vice president for USC. He succeeds Sharon O’Keefe, who has served as UCMC President since 2011 and COO of the health system since 2017. O’Keefe announced last year that she planned to retire in July 2020.

His career has focused on executing ambitious and broad transformations in academic medicine and engaging physician leaders in organizational change. During his almost nine-year tenure at Keck Medicine, he grew USC’s medical enterprise from two for-profit hospitals to a $2.1 billion regional academic health system with internationally renowned physicians, care quality in the top quartile in the country and strong scientific research capabilities. Under his leadership, Keck Medical Center of USC was ranked No. 16 on the U.S. News & World Report 2019-20 Best Hospitals Honor Roll, and Keck Hospital of USC achieved Magnet recognition in 2018, the highest national honor for excellence in nursing and patient care.

Jackiewicz previously served in leadership roles in both medical schools and academic health systems at the University of California, San Diego, the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center.

“Tom is the right leader to succeed Sharon and help us continue the University of Chicago’s legacy of advancing the forefront of medicine through outstanding patient-centered clinical care, scientific discovery and innovation, and continued growth as an academic health system,” said Kenneth S. Polonsky, MD, Dean and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Chicago and President of the UChicago Medicine health system. “As a leader, Tom is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration among physicians, scientists, nurses, other clinicians and support staff.”

Jackiewicz emerged as the top candidate in a competitive national search because of his deep knowledge of academic medicine and experience with the tripartite mission of research, clinical care and medical education.

“I’ve admired UChicago Medicine and its pioneering approach to advancing clinical care through scientific research, and for educating the next generation of physicians and scientists,” Jackiewicz said. “I look forward to building upon this historic tradition to advance innovation and continue to extend access to UChicago Medicine’s outstanding medical care across Chicago, the south suburbs and Northwest Indiana.”

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