I am writing to share some important news. Deborah J. Jones, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, will depart UTMB to take on an exciting and significant new role as President of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute of Health Professions. Her last day at UTMB will be Jan. 16, 2026.

Since joining UTMB in 2017, Dr. Jones has served as Senior Vice President and Dean of the UTMB School of Nursing (SON), holding the Rebecca Sealy Distinguished Centennial Chair. In 2023 she was additionally named Chief Integration Officer of UTMB. She served as Provost ad interim from September 2022 to August 2023. Dr. Jones’s vision and leadership have advanced nursing education, strengthened institutional integration, and guided UTMB’s missions with excellence.

Dr. Jones has been a champion and driver of workforce development and interdisciplinary collaboration at the local, state and national levels. Under her direction, the SON has launched innovative academic-practice partnerships to close the gap between the healthcare and academic areas. In response to state workforce needs, the SON launched new programs including the state’s first and only dual FNP/AGACNP BSN-to-DNP track, the new Nurse Anesthesia Program, and certificate offerings in rural telehealth and correctional nursing care. On the national level, Dr. Jones served on the Board of Directors for the American Association for College of Nursing, to ensure policies at the national level reflect the needs of nursing education and practice. 

Dr. Jones’s emphasis on high impact nursing research placed UTMB SON on the map. Through enhancing the research infrastructure, there have been impactful discoveries in healthy aging, violence prevention, women’s health and more. In the last three years alone, the school secured more than $10 million in extramural funding and rose from previously unranked to ranked in NIH Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. The school has consistently maintained national licensure exam pass rates above 98 percent – the highest among large schools in Texas – and earned national accolades, including top 10 rankings by U.S. News & World Report in multiple categories.

Dr. Jones established new global partnerships to multiple countries including Belize and Kenya, where the school sends faculty and students annually. Since her start in 2017, the SON has raised more than $8.9 million in philanthropic support, with $2 million from the school-specific annual fundraising event that supports undergraduate student scholarships. 

As Chief Integration Officer, Dr. Jones fostered collaboration across mission areas, improved operational efficiency, and promoted a culture of innovation and continuous improvement – strengthening patient care, education, and workforce development across UTMB. In addition to her role as a visionary leader for UTMB, many identify Dr. Jones as a strong mentor and fierce advocate. She is passionate about developing leaders and encouraging learners to capitalize on their strengths and bring their valuable voices to the table. Her commitment to compassion, integrity, and lifelong learning will leave a lasting impact on our institution and the many learners, faculty, and leaders who have benefited from her knowledge, vision, and mentorship. 

Please join me in thanking Dr. Jones for her outstanding contributions and wishing her great success at MGH!

Sincerely yours,

Susan Chubinskaya, PhD, MS

Senior Vice President, Provost, and 

Chief Academic Officer of the University of Texas Medical Branch

Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, John Sealy School of Medicine

Thomas N. and Gleaves T. James Distinguished Chair