Mark Ott
Mark Ott is the newly appointed inaugural dean of Brigham Young University's medical school. The BYU Board of Trustees approved his appointment.
An accomplished surgeon with Intermountain Health, Ott has held academic and affiliate appointments at Johns Hopkins, Harvard Medical School, Stanford School of Medicine and the University of Utah School of Medicine. At the time of his appointment as dean, he was a practicing surgical oncologist.
Ott comes to the role of dean having previously led the surgical departments at both Intermountain LDS Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center. He also served as the medical director of the Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Health's flagship hospital and hub of academic residencies, training and research.
He holds a bachelor’s degree and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Utah. He served his medical internship and residency in general surgery at Johns Hopkins, where he was also a research and clinical fellow specializing in surgical oncology.
Ott is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the department of surgery’s faculty teacher of the year award at the University of Utah and the Intermountain Health Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary service to medicine.
“It’s a humbling and exciting honor to join Brigham Young University as the inaugural dean of its new medical school,” Ott said of the appointment. “BYU’s medical school will provide students with a topflight medical education as well as an enduring appreciation that their talents and training are gifts from God for the benefit of the world.”
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors BYU, announced plans for a medical school in July 2024. The church leaders said the new school would emphasize international health and the faith’s global humanitarian efforts.
External Sources
- BYU News, "BYU names Mark Ott as inaugural dean of BYU Medical School"
- Deseret News, "BYU names inaugural dean of medical school"
- Deseret News, "‘Delivering health care to people is a ministry’: Founding BYU Medical School dean details his plans"
- Church News, "BYU appoints 1st dean of future medical school"
