Leigh Neumayer, MD, MS, who heads the department of surgery at UA College of Medicine-Tucson, will be interim senior vice president for health sciences effective Jan. 1, 2017. UA Heath Sciences includes UA’s medical schools in Phoenix and Tucson and the colleges of nursing, pharmacy and public health.The total UA Heath Sciences budget is $595 million per year.
Leigh Neumayer, MD, MS
Dr. Neumayer is internationally known for her expertise in breast cancer surgery and research, advocacy for women’s health issues and leadership in surgical education. She was named head of the University of Arizona College of Medicine’s Department of Surgery and the Margaret E. and Fenton L. Maynard Endowed Chair in Breast Cancer Research in 2014.
Dr. Neumayer’s appointment follows the resignation of Dr. Joe G.N. “Skip” Garcia who is resigning his administrative position to devote more time to being a medical school professor and to his expanding research portfolio. Garcia holds a tenured appointment as the Dr. Merlin K. DuVal Professor of Medicine in the UA College of Medicine – Tucson.
“I am proud to have been able to have had such a strong impact on health science at the University of Arizona and am pleased to be able to continue to contribute to this important effort through my scientific research, teaching and clinical work,” –Dr. Joe G.N. “Skip” Garcia
“I am excited about Dr. Neumayer’s leadership in the health sciences,” UA President Ann Weaver Hart said in a statement. “She has a distinguished record as a physician scientist and has demonstrated exceptional leadership as chair of the department of surgery, building an incredible team and restoring critically important transplant programs. She also has established a tremendous working relationship with our Banner Health colleagues.”