LaTanya J. Love, MD, serves as dean of McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), leading the school’s strategy and initiatives to prepare and support learners, strengthen clinical programs and partnerships, and transform bold ideas into scientific discoveries that improve lives.
With an emphasis on healthcare education and student well-being, Dr. Love has been integral to the advancement of UTHealth Houston’s mission for more than two decades.
Inspired by stories of her late grandfather — a respected physician in Beaumont — Dr. Love pursued a career in medicine. After earning her medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Dr. Love completed her combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at McGovern Medical School in 2004, followed by a chief residency in 2005. She remains double board-certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics.
Her first leadership position was as medical director of Student Health Services, where she integrated student health and counseling to create a comprehensive medical home for students. This experience inspired her to develop a schoolwide research project on the range of pressures and factors impacting well-being. The findings informed the development of a holistic wellness program encompassing financial wellness, academic success, career planning, professionalism, and interpersonal development for students.
Dr. Love went on to join the leadership team in McGovern Medical School’s Office of Admissions and Student Affairs before serving as the school’s first dean of Education. She served as interim president of UTHealth Houston from March 1, 2025, to Sept. 9, 2025, and began her tenure as dean the following day. She also serves as executive vice president for Student and University Affairs.
Dr. Love spearheaded the creation of the McGovern Societies Mentorship program, one of the first of its kind to integrate wellness and resilience into medical education. Her expertise has been recognized with national speaking invitations, numerous articles, and authoring a book on the subject.
She has held national leadership positions, including serving on the AAMC Group on Student Affairs’ National Committee on Admissions. She also served as Faculty Accreditation Lead for the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and has participated in LCME accreditation survey teams across the country.
Dr. Love’s emphasis on education extends beyond students in an academic setting. She previously was a regular guest on KHOU Channel 11’s “House Calls” segment and served as the resident expert on a similar health news segment on KTRK Channel 13. She was medical director of UTHealth Houston’s Mobile Clinic in partnership with the School of Public Health’s Brownsville campus, where she helped pioneer the use of telemedicine in elementary schools in the Rio Grande Valley.
A recipient of the UTHealth Houston President’s Excellence Award and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, Dr. Love’s contributions to medical education, leadership, and student well-being continue to shape the future of healthcare.
She met her husband, Ray, while they were both residents at UTHealth Houston. They are proud parents of Andrew and Amaya.