Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Dr. John E. Gross has joined UCI School of Medicine as the vice dean for clinical affairs. He comes to us from Keck School of Medicine of USC, where he served as a full time faculty member for more than 18 years. His training included residencies in general surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery, as well as a fellowship in craniofacial reconstruction. He is double boarded in surgery and plastic surgery, and has received numerous accolades for his clinical work. He is also included in the Best Doctors in America® and America’s Top Doctors® lists, and has been for 15 consecutive years. During his tenure at USC, Gross received numerous teaching awards and served in various leadership roles, including chief of plastic surgery at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for 12 years.

In his new role, Gross will report to me and join the dean’s cabinet. He will focus on our clinical integration effort and will chair the new Workforce Planning and Standards Committee for the enterprise. He will also work with faculty members on meeting and advancing clinical practice goals and objectives. Rick Gannotta, interim CEO of UCI Health, and I will work with Gross on clinical program development and expansion. Together, and with the support of our leadership team, we will establish operations to support clinical success while emphasizing clinical integration, patient centeredness, efficiency, cost and quality.

With the announcement of Gross’ arrival, I also want to take the opportunity to thank Dr. Manuel Porto, president and CEO of UCI Health University Physicians and Surgeons, for his previous leadership in the role of vice dean for clinical affairs. Porto will work closely with Gross as we transition responsibilities over the coming weeks.

On the academic side, Gross will focus on physician engagement through faculty recruitment, compensation, satisfaction and retention. As chair of the aforementioned Workforce Planning and Standards Committee, he will work to ensure adequate faculty size and capacity throughout the School of Medicine and the broader UCI Health environment. Gross will also support the clinical components of RISE, the research, infrastructure, strategic and enhancement clinical trials initiative.

An entrepreneur at heart, Gross is co-founder of a successful company focused on aesthetics procedures and treatments. He has served as a financial advisor to many medical device startups and as a board member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Gross received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and medical degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He completed his residency in plastic surgery at USC, and is certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Please join me in welcoming him to UCI.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Stamos, MD
Dean, UCI School of Medicine