Joseph Silva, dean of the School of Medicine at the University of California, Davis, and chief executive officer of the UC Davis Health System, has announced his intention to step down from his administrative post no later than June 2005.

"I have been honored and privileged to serve the school and the health system," said Silva. "Although our school is still relatively young in comparison to others in this country, we have a tremendous record of achievement of which I am very proud. UC Davis Health System is poised to build upon its already proud tradition and make even greater contributions."

Silva assumed his current post in 1997 after having served for 14 years as chair of the UC Davis Department of Internal Medicine. When his successor comes aboard, Silva plans to resume his faculty position.

"Dr. Silva's leadership of the medical school and the health system has been strong, from his commitment to our medical students' education, his fostering of new research opportunities and his dedication to the highest quality health care for our patients," said UC Davis Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef.

Added UC Davis Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw: "There is no doubt that Dr. Silva has positioned the school and health system well for continued growth and achievement. We are surely indebted to him for his many contributions to UC Davis."

Silva's successor will carry a new title -- vice chancellor for human health services and dean of the School of Medicine -- and additionally will assume supervisory responsibility for the medical center director position. A review of dean recruitments currently under way across the country suggests that organizational model is becoming the standard for academic medical centers and is attracting the strongest candidates. The restructuring has been endorsed by Silva and medical center director Robert Chason, and a recruitment advisory committee will be established shortly.

The School of Medicine continues to rank among the top medical schools in the nation for its primary care program. As well, test scores from the National Board of Medical Examiners consistently rank UC Davis medical students among the nation's finest.

Silva's collaborative and consensus-building style allowed for the further integration of the School of Medicine and UC Davis Medical Center into the UC Davis Health System. Among academic medical institutions, the health system is recognized for achieving and maintaining one of the most successful mergers of a school and hospital into a single, integrated entity.

"I could not have been more fortunate than to have had the opportunity to work with Dean Silva," said Chason. "In many ways, I enjoyed the elements that most people hope for in a working relationship but rarely find: compatibility and mutual respect. He has been a friend, mentor and trusted colleague, and I will miss him greatly."

During Silva's tenure as dean, research funding received by the School of Medicine more than doubled, from $44.3 million in fiscal year 1997-98 to $102 million as of the end of November 2003. Some of the most rapid growth in research funding involves the UC Davis Cancer Center. Silva's support for the hiring of new faculty, establishing new research laboratories and committing the resources to the cancer center were instrumental in the center's achieving National Cancer Institute designation.

While Silva has served as dean, substantial growth also has occurred in the areas of vascular disease, infectious diseases and the neurosciences. UC Davis' strengths in basic and clinical sciences have been augmented through collaborations with organizations such as the Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California, the Veterans Affairs Health System and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.

Silva has overseen the development of the M.I.N.D. Institute at UC Davis, a collaborative, international research center committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, care and cure of neurodevelopmental disorders.

A specialist in infectious and immunologic diseases, Silva has more than 150 published works in scholarly journals, in addition to dozens of book chapters and editorials, as well as more than 100 abstract presentations at scientific meetings.

Silva served two terms as a regent of the American College of Physicians. He is a former president of the Infectious Diseases Society of Northern California and a past member of the Board of Trustees of the California Medical Association.

Silva received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in 1962 and his M.D. degree from Northwestern University Medical School in 1966. He completed his internship and residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School.

After serving two years in the U.S. Air Force, Silva returned to the University of Michigan, where he was appointed assistant professor of internal medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases. He was promoted to professor in 1980. Silva joined the faculty of the UC Davis Department of Internal Medicine in 1982.