David M. Stern, MD, has been named vice chancellor for Health Affairs for Statewide Initiatives, a new position at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He began his new role last month.

In his previous role as executive dean and vice chancellor for Clinical Affairs, he amassed a long list of accomplishments including recruiting more than 30 nationally-recognized chairs/directors and 65 research-engaged faculty members. He led the creation of five new departments, was instrumental in launching numerous initiatives, and oversaw efforts leading to the reaccreditation of the UTHSC College of Medicine for eight years. Under his guidance, philanthropic support for the College of Medicine increased from $11.5 million when he joined UTHSC In 2011 to more than $38 million last year.

In his new role, Stern will focus on the direction and expansion of key initiatives already underway, as well as new initiatives with the goal of ameliorating essential health problems across Tennessee. One new initiative focuses on rural health, and Stern is currently planning and coordinating an integrated primary care program involving the Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry in the College of Medicine and Cherokee Health Systems, focusing on adverse childhood experiences and health disparities among Tennesseans.