Dear colleagues, 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jason A. Wertheim to the new role of associate vice president for research and partnerships – health research. 

Dr. Wertheim is a nationally recognized physician-scientist whose leadership in biomedical research and academic medicine will be pivotal as we advance our strategic priorities in health and life sciences. He serves as vice dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Medicine – Tucson and holds faculty appointments in surgery, biomedical engineering and cellular and molecular medicine. His NIH- and VA-funded work in tissue bioengineering addresses a critical need to develop tissue models to understand disease, evaluate therapeutics or one day produce transplantable tissues and organs. 

In recognition of his contributions to the field, Dr. Wertheim was named to the 2025–2026 class of the Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Deans Fellowship Program and is the first fellow selected from the state of Arizona. He is also a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, one of the highest honors bestowed by the United States government upon early-career researchers. 

In his new role, Dr. Wertheim will guide the development of health-related research initiatives across the university, deepen external partnerships and help position the U of A to lead in areas such as AI-driven health care, precision medicine and biomedical data science. His appointment is a key step in aligning the university’s strengths in health research with urgent societal needs. 

This is a time of great momentum and opportunity for us. With faculty across disciplines tackling grand challenges in health and beyond, we are strengthening the foundation for sustained excellence and impact. Dr. Wertheim’s leadership will help accelerate this progress and amplify our collective contributions to the public good. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Wertheim on his appointment. I look forward to the leadership he will bring as we continue advancing a research enterprise that serves our state and inspires the world. 

Sincerely, 
 
Tomás Díaz de la Rubia 
Senior Vice President for Research and Partnerships 
The University of Arizona