Faculty Associate Dean for Admissions

The Office of Admissions at Harvard Medical School (HMS) is dedicated to identifying, recruiting, and selecting exceptional students who will contribute meaningfully to the medical profession and advance the school’s mission of leadership, discovery, and service. The office ensures that each entering class reflects a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences essential to excellence in medicine. Working closely with faculty, staff, and affiliated programs, the Office of Admissions plays an important role in cultivating a community of future physician leaders who will thrive at HMS and make a lasting impact on healthcare and society.

We seek an accomplished academic physician with a demonstrated record of leadership in medical education and a strong understanding of the higher education admissions landscape. They will be a strategic thinker, an effective communicator, and a principled leader capable of navigating complexity with fairness and integrity.

This position offers the opportunity to guide the recruitment and selection of future leaders in medicine and science. The Faculty Associate Dean will collaborate with faculty and staff to design and implement innovative strategies for outreach, selection, and evaluation that reflect HMS’s mission and values. It offers the opportunity to shape national and global conversations about admissions practices, to represent HMS to key external audiences, and to influence the trajectory of the next generation of physician-scholars and leaders.

Reporting to the Dean for Medical Education, the Faculty Associate Dean for Admissions oversees the entire admissions process, in collaboration with the Director of Admissions and the administrative staff of the admissions office, and serves as the Chair of the main Admissions Committee. This position will require a concurrent faculty appointment at Harvard Medical School.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a vision for admissions in partnership with the Dean for Medical Education, ensuring alignment with HMS’s mission and educational goals.
• Oversee all aspects of the admissions process, ensuring the recruitment and selection of the most qualified candidates for the MD program.
• Chair the main Admissions Committee and provide oversight for its subcommittees, including recruitment, training, and evaluation of faculty and staff committee members.
• Partners with the Director of Admissions to create and foster collaboration, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure full compliance with internal policies and all accreditation-related, regulatory, and legal standards.
• Represent HMS admissions to internal and external stakeholders, including University offices, national medical education consortia, accrediting bodies, and application services.
• Champion an inclusive and welcoming applicant experience, ensuring all candidates encounter fairness, respect, and transparency throughout the admissions process.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the Harvard medical education program to premedical advisors, educational institutions, and the broader academic community, strengthening relationships that support recruitment and outreach.
• Collaborate closely with dual and specialized degree programs (e.g., Health Sciences and Technology, MD-PhD) to ensure recruitment and selection processes attract optimally prepared students.
• Analyze and respond to outcomes data and student performance metrics to inform evidence-based improvements to admissions policies and practices.

As part of your application, we recommend including a cover letter that will help us better understand your qualifications and background. This can provide valuable insight into your experience and interest in the role. Applicants must hold a current faculty appointment at the Harvard Medical School to be eligible for this position.