Theodore DeWeese welcomed as next dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine

The Johns Hopkins Medicine community gathered in person and virtually on Dec. 12 to formally celebrate the appointment of Theodore "Ted" DeWeese as the 15th dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and third CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

DeWeese, who joined the Johns Hopkins Hospital as a radiation oncology resident in 1991 and whose appointment as dean and CEO was announced last week, was lauded for his leadership and stewardship during his time as interim dean and CEO.

JHU President Ron Daniels recalled the 2022 conversation in which he asked DeWeese to serve in an interim capacity following the retirement of Paul Rothman.

"Ted, we're really lucky, for so many reasons, that you said 'yes' that day," Daniels said. "As so many of your colleagues—and I did have a chance over the summer to speak to every director, every chair in the School of Medicine—and to a person the description of you, Ted, was of course one of recognizing the immense capabilities that you bring to the job, the way in which you made so much constructive, important change happen. But the number of times I heard adjectives like trustworthy, transparent, dedicated, humble, patient—it just says so much about the character of your leadership."

Kevin Sowers, president of the Johns Hopkins Health System and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine, praised DeWeese as a natural leader capable of both imagination and inspiration.

"Ted has a way of connecting with people," he said. "He cares deeply about what motivates them, what makes them tick. He has gone above and beyond … to make Johns Hopkins a place where everyone—clinicians, researchers, staff, and students—have the opportunity to succeed. These are the qualities we need most in a leader right now. … It is my and Johns Hopkins great fortune to have Ted's vision, passion, and partnership as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead."

DeWeese—who was joined by his wife, Bonny, along with their daughter, son, and daughter-in-law for Tuesday's event—said it was "an honor and a privilege" to be named to the role of dean and CEO. He added that he still has the same sense of awe, the same passion, the same love for Johns Hopkins as he did when he arrived more than three decades ago.

"Despite all the change, one thing does remain constant, and that's our core," DeWeese said. "No matter how much we grow and change, we will not deviate from who we are and how we were founded, to be the finest academic medical center in this world. Period.

"We will not deviate from that. Why? Because we do discovery, contemporary discovery, that is translated into the best of patient care. And when we do those two things, that's our foundation to train the next leaders of medicine and biomedicine. That's what we do; that's who we are."