TAMPA, Fla. – Haywood L. Brown, MD, an experienced physician, researcher and leader in higher education, has been selected as the University of South Florida System’s new vice president for diversity, inclusion & equal opportunity and Title IX administrator. Along with his USF System role, Dr. Brown has also been named associate dean for diversity at the Morsani College of Medicine and chief diversity officer for USF Health.
“Dr. Brown is a highly accomplished and well-respected leader in academic medicine and issues of diversity who will make the University of South Florida System even stronger,” USF System President Judy Genshaft said. “One of our greatest assets is the rich diversity of our students, faculty and staff. Dr. Brown will continue our commitment to providing a welcoming climate of inclusion throughout the USF System.”
Working across the entire institution, Dr. Brown will shape and implement policies that support the university’s strategic goals and mission. He will be responsible for leading USF’s diversity and Title IX programs, and he will also work closely with senior leadership to develop diverse modeling across the institution. Dr. Brown will oversee the implementation of the USF System Diversity Strategic Plan.
“I am so honored to have this opportunity at USF,” Dr. Brown said. “Throughout my career, I have recognized the importance of diversity in achieving excellence in education and community engagement, particularly as it relates to population health and health outcomes.”
At USF Health, Dr. Brown will provide vision, leadership, coordination and strategic planning for the design and implementation of a USF Health-wide platform to enhance diversity, equity and respect. He will work to align USF Health’s diversity initiatives with the university’s strategic plan and provide guidance on the recruitment and retention of a diverse community of students, faculty and staff.
“Dr. Brown comes to USF Health with a stellar background in teaching, research and clinical practice. He has been a leader in medicine at the state and national levels and is a champion for the health of underrepresented and underserved populations,” Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, added. “I am excited to see Dr. Brown join our university, and I have every confidence in his abilities as a proven leader who will help strengthen USF’s outreach to all communities.”
Dr. Brown comes to USF from Duke University Medical Center, where he has worked in several capacities since 2002. Most recently, Dr. Brown served as the F. Bayard Carter Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and has held leadership roles in a number of university committees. He has also been actively involved in diversity initiatives within his department, university-wide and in the broader Durham, N.C. community. Throughout his career, Dr. Brown has made it a point to focus on serving diverse populations.
“Diversity is also about recognizing the talent each individual brings to an institution and to society in order to contribute to diverse demographics of our communities. So much of my work in medicine has been at the community level and to help inspire young learners, especially underrepresented minors to strive for excellence,” Dr. Brown said. “Getting this opportunity at USF to contribute at the undergraduate level at this time in my career is a dream come true.”
Prior to his time at Duke University, Dr. Brown spent more than a decade at Indiana University School of Medicine. He received his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and his medical degree from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University.
Dr. Brown’s first day with USF will be July 1, 2018.