Jamieson assumes leadership role as VP for medical affairs, dean of Carver College of Medicine

Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, begins today as University of Iowa vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. 

Jamieson begins her new role after serving as the James Robert McCord Professor and Chair of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine and chief of gynecology and obstetrics for Emory Healthcare. 

“It’s an honor to join the University of Iowa community,” Jamieson says. “UI Health Care is recognized around the state and the nation for its people and its programs, and I’m excited to help lead the organization into a new era of change and growth.” 

UI President Barbara Wilson praised Jamieson when the appointment was announced in May. 

“Dr. Jamieson’s rich and diverse background of experiences will allow her to lead UI Health Care,” Wilson said. “I am particularly impressed with Dr. Jamieson’s ability to bring people together and create a culture that supports the success of everyone in the organization.” 

Jamieson’s scientific work focuses on emerging infectious diseases in pregnancy and incorporates a population health perspective, with projects addressing health disparities and social determinants of health in the context of maternal morbidity and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.  

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Duke University School of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed postgraduate education in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California at San Francisco and as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer in the Division of Reproductive Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Before her leadership role at Emory, Jamieson worked for 20 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she served in a variety of leadership positions, most recently leading the CDC’s Zika emergency response as incident manager. Upon retirement from the U.S. Public Health Service as a captain in July 2017, she received the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award granted to an officer in the Commissioned Corps, for “notable contributions to reproductive health and public health practice.” She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2020. 

Jamieson succeeds Brooks Jackson, MD, MBA, who announced in February 2022 his plan to step down and continue his research, teaching, and clinical interests as a faculty member in the Department of Pathology.