Selecting a strong, compassionate, steadfast individual to take the helm of our largest hospital department is no easy task. The ideal candidate must be a committed leader who strives — every day — to improve patient care, science, education, equity and access throughout every level of our institution and within the communities we serve. Today, we are thrilled to announce that, following a nationwide search, we have found this gifted, dynamic person within our own Massachusetts General Hospital family. We hope you will join us in congratulating Jose C. Florez, MD, PhD, who will become chair of the Mass General Department of Medicine, effective Sept. 1, 2023.
A career-long MGHer, Dr. Florez joined us in 1997 after earning his MD and PhD from Northwestern University. He trained in neurology and internal medicine, before completing a fellowship in endocrinology and joining the faculty. Dr. Florez — who holds the John T. Potts Jr., MD Endowed Chair in Medicine and was MGH Research Scholar 2013-2018 — has served as chief of both the Mass General Endocrine Division and the Diabetes Unit since 2019 and 2015, respectively. Throughout the past 26 years, his love of this incredible hospital and his dedication to strengthening and enhancing the health and well-being of our patients while training the next generation has been evident in his work, which includes globally recognized research focused on the clinical translation of genetic findings in type 2 diabetes, with a view to advancing precision medicine.
During his career, Dr. Florez founded the Mass General Down Syndrome Program, oversaw the expansion of the Inpatient Diabetes Service, and was instrumental in the creation of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Program, the Diabetes Genetics Clinic and the Endocrine Hypertension Clinic. Supporting the next generation of physician-scientists is a top priority for Dr. Florez, who has mentored and served as a vocal advocate for dozens of students, residents and junior faculty throughout the years, including a dedicated commitment to women and those under-represented in medicine. He has authored more than 310 research articles, reviews and book chapters and is an inducted member of both the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians.
As we welcome Dr. Florez to this new role, we would like to express our deepest thanks to Josh Metlay, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine, for his exemplary service as interim chair during the past 18 months. We would also like to share our appreciation for the committed efforts of the search committee, led by Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSC, chair of the Department of Neurology, who helped us navigate this process and secure this incredibly successful outcome.
David F. M. Brown, MD
President, Massachusetts General Hospital
Marcela del Carmen, MD
President, Massachusetts General Physicians Organization