Executive Vice Dean University of Missouri, School of Medicine | Columbia, Missouri The University of Missouri, School of Medicine has selected Dr. Ross Zafonte, DO, to serve as the Executive Vice Dean, effective October 1, 2024. As executive dean he will oversee the development and assessment of the medical school’s 23 academic department and will be crucial in driving faculty recruitment and professional development.Dr. Zafonte is a nationally and internationally recognized physician-scientist, whose work in the field of rehabilitation medicine focuses on traumatic brain and spinal cord injury recovery. Dr. Zafonte comes to MU from Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, where he served as the president of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network and as the Earl P. and Ida S. Charlton Professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Previously, Dr. Zafonte has also served as chief medical officer and designated institutional officer of Spaulding.Under Dr. Zafonte’s leadership, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital consistently achieved top rankings in U.S. News & World Report and research funding tripled under his guidance. This enabled Spaulding to become the only center national to host three National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research-model research centers, focusing on pioneering studies in neurorehabilitation.Dr. Zafonte has played a pivotal role in the establishment and leadership Mass General Brigham/Red Sox Foundation Home Base Program, dedicated to serving veterans with traumatic brain injuries and psychological health conditions. He has also been at the forefront of research to improve the health and well-being of athletes through his role as principal investigator of the Football Players Health Study at Harvard.Dr. Zafonte earned his DO from Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in Rehabilitation Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Zafonte also completed his postdoctoral training and faculty role at MU in 1991.Jamie Sands and Jay Torio led this search with Katie White and Lily Sethares.
