Jennifer Hunt, an internationally recognized pathologist and physician-scientist, has been named the next dean of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, according to an April 2 announcement from Provost Santiago Schnell and President Sian Leah Beilock. Hunt will begin her new role on Aug. 1 and will be the first woman to lead the medical school in its 229-year history.
Hunt is currently serving as interim dean at the University of Florida College of Medicine, where she holds the Folke H. Peterson Dean’s Distinguished Professorship. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for Geisel, reflecting ongoing efforts to promote diversity in leadership roles within academic medicine.
“Jennifer Hunt is an exceptional physician-leader with deep experience in academic medicine and a strong commitment to interdisciplinary and translational research,” Schnell said. “She is well positioned to advance Geisel’s mission and to sustain the school’s longstanding emphasis on service to our region, excellence in patient care, and research-driven innovation.”
Hunt has published more than 160 peer-reviewed papers and has held elected board positions with organizations such as the Association for Molecular Pathology and the Florida Society of Pathologists. She previously chaired UF’s Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine and served as chief of hospital medical staff for UF Health Shands Hospital.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be joining the vibrant Dartmouth community,” Hunt said. “I am looking forward to getting to know the Geisel School of Medicine’s faculty, staff, students, and trainees and collaborating with them to build upon the school’s rich history of innovation and excellence.”
President Beilock said that Hunt “has the experience and skills to help Geisel shape world-class physicians and health scientists who will also be leaders in their communities.” Joanne Conroy ’77, CEO of Dartmouth Health—a close partner institution—said she was confident that under Hunt’s leadership “the symbiotic relationship between our institutions will not just continue but expand and thrive.”
Founded in 1797, Geisel is one of America’s oldest medical schools. It operates joint programs such as Dartmouth Cancer Center with Dartmouth Health—recognized by national institutes—and leads Ivy Plus institutions in National Institutes of Health funding for rural health initiatives.
Outgoing interim dean Steve Leach called this transition “a truly historic moment for Geisel,” saying he believes Dr. Hunt “will lead our institution into an era of even greater success.” The search committee included faculty members from across disciplines at Dartmouth along with representatives from student bodies.
Hunt studied chemistry at Bryn Mawr College before earning her MD/Ed degrees from University of Pennsylvania; she completed residency training there as well. In addition to her clinical work, she is a certified executive coach focused on leadership development within healthcare settings.
