A Message from the Senior Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer, UTMB
Dear colleagues,
I am thrilled to announce that The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) has named its next Dean of the School of Health Professions. David L. Vines, PhD, RRT, FAARC, FCCP, will serve as Senior Vice President and Dean, holding the Catherine L. Scholl, MD Distinguished Chair in Health Professions, effective Jan. 20, 2026.
Dr. Vines joins us from the College of Health Sciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He currently serves as Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences and Associate Dean for Clinical Integration.
He is widely recognized for founding and building one of the nation’s only entry-level Master of Science in Respiratory Care (MSRC) programs, now a nationally lauded model for excellence in credentialing outcomes, student engagement, and patient-centered education. Under his leadership, the department evolved into a research-intensive, high-performing academic unit, earning multiple APEX awards from the American Association for Respiratory Care and repeated honors from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Dr. Vines holds a PhD in Health Sciences from Rush University, a Master of Health Science in Clinical Physiology from LSU Medical Center, and dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and cardiopulmonary science. Throughout his 30-plus-year career, he has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts. He regularly collaborates on multicenter clinical trials and translational research, particularly in mechanical ventilation, critical care outcomes, and patient safety.
He has served the National Board for Respiratory Care for 16 years as Board of Trustees member and in various leadership roles, including President. He has received several awards for teaching excellence, professional service, and patient care—including recognition as Fellow of the American Association for Respiratory Care and the American College of Chest Physicians.
Dr. Vines’s leadership philosophy centers on empowering faculty and students to lead with curiosity and compassion while staying at the forefront of emerging evidence and evolving health care demands. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Vines and look forward to his vision and leadership.
I also extend sincere appreciation to Melinda Sheffield-Moore, PhD, for her strong interim leadership of the school since March 2025. Please join me in thanking her and warmly welcoming Dr. Vines!
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