December 8, 2003 — David J. Bjorkman, M.D., M.S.P.H., senior associate dean of the University of Utah School of Medicine since 2000, has been named interim dean of the school, effective January 1, 2004.

The appointment, approved today by the University of Utah Board of Trustees, followed today’s announcement that A. Lorris Betz, M.D., Ph.D., medical dean and senior health sciences vice president, has been named interim president of the University of Utah.

Bjorkman, a gastroenterologist who joined the medical school faculty in 1985, is professor of internal medicine and executive medical director of the University of Utah Medical Group, the organization of University physicians.

“I can count on Dave Bjorkman. He makes sound decisions and has excellent educational credentials and tremendous energy. Those qualities, coupled with his extensive administrative experience as senior associate dean, make him the perfect fit to ensure a seamless continuation of strong medical school leadership,” said Interim President Betz.

Bjorkman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a medical degree from the University of Utah. He completed his residency training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, where he also did a fellowship and additional advanced training.

In 1988, he received a Master of Science degree in public health/health services administration from the U of U School of Medicine and also a Master of Science degree in epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. He completed the Administration for Physicians Program at the U’s David Eccles School of Business in 1996 and just concluded a one-year fellowship sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Council of Deans.