IU announced Dr. Scott Boden as the executive vice president for university clinical affairs and the dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine in an IUpress release Thursday.
The orthopedic surgeon-scientist will officially begin his role on Sept. 8, becoming the School of Medicine’s 11th dean. Boden will also serve as the executive vice president for university clinical affairs and will report to IU President Pamela Whitten as a member of her cabinet.
Boden assumes the role from Dr. Jay Hess, who after a decade of service will be stepping down July 2026. Appointed in 2013, Hess oversaw significant growth at the school, including a 30% expansion of its medical school class size over the decade, according to the press release.
As the nation’s largest medical school, the IU School of Medicine enrolls over 1,500 medical students, with over 1,400 trainees and fellows. The school worksclosely with IU Health, the state’s largest health system.
Boden said in a press release he is honored to join IU and sees significant potential in the school’s existing strengths as he steps into the role.
“There is real momentum at IU,” Boden said in the press release, “and building on the talent that already exists across the School of Medicine and its clinical partners, I believe the IU School of Medicine can stand among the very best in academic medicine while continuing to expand its impact across Indiana."
Boden received his B.A. and M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, completing an orthopedic surgery residency at The George Washington University Medical Center.
He comes to IU after spending more than 34 years at Emory University, where he most recently served as a tenured professor and chair emeritus of orthopedic surgery at the Emory University School of Medicine.
He was director of the Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Center, becoming the first medical officer and chief quality officer of the Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital.
Boden also served as Emory Healthcare’s first chief strategy officer, leading clinical and academic growth, including growing its musculoskeletal service line from $20 million to $500 million.
Whitten said Boden will work to “accelerate high-impact research” and “advance the discovery and commercialization of new therapies” for Indiana patients, according to the press release.
