Presidents and Deans
UT Southwestern Medical Center has had 11 leaders since its founding in 1943 as Southwestern Medical College. UT Southwestern Medical Center was initially led by a succession of Deans. The first Dean, Donald Slaughter, M.D., began his tenure in 1943. The last Dean, Charles C. Sprague, M.D., ultimately became the school’s first President in 1972, when the Office of the President was created.
Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., is UT Southwestern’s current President. He is the third individual to hold the post, succeeding C. Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Ph.D., and Charles Cameron Sprague, M.D.
Presidents, 1972-present

Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D.
President
President

Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Ph.D.
President, 1986-2008
President, 1986-2008

Charles C. Sprague, M.D.
President, 1972-1986
President, 1972-1986
Deans, 1943-1972

Charles C. Sprague, M.D.
Dean, 1967-1972
Dean, 1967-1972

Atticus J. Gill, M.D.
Dean, 1954-67
Dean, 1954-67

George Aagaard, M.D.
Dean, 1952-54
Dean, 1952-54

Atticus J. Gill, M.D.
Dean, 1951-52
Dean, 1951-52

Carl Moyer, M.D.
Dean, 1950-51
Dean, 1950-51

William Lee Hart, M.D.
Dean, 1946-50
Dean, 1946-50

William F. Mengert
Acting Dean, 1946
Acting Dean, 1946

Tinsley R. Harrison, M.D.
Dean, 1944-46
Dean, 1944-46

David Slaughter, M.D.
Acting Dean, 1943-44
Acting Dean, 1943-44