3 questions with Mark Rosenblatt, new Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences

Next week, Mark Rosenblatt will begin his first day as the new Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences at UC Davis Health.

In his role as the senior executive for UC Davis Health, he is responsible for overseeing all of the health system’s research, education, and patient care.

Rosenblatt is already more than a little familiar with Northern California’s top academic medical center. He began his academic career at UC Davis in 2005 as an assistant professor of ophthalmology and vision science, where he split his time between research in Davis and clinical care in Sacramento.  

“I’m so pleased to be back at UC Davis – it feels like coming home,” he said.

Rosenblatt recently sat down for an interview with Public Affairs & Marketing. He answered questions on what defines great patient care; what can be done to address burnout in health care; and how we navigate all of the changes happening in health care.

“My approach has always been to listen,” he said. “As we do our strategic planning, it’s not going to be my plan – it’s going to be the organization’s plan. It's going to be the plan of our students, our staff, and, of course, our faculty. Together, we’re much smarter than we are individually, and it's going to be fun to work with this group. It’s a highly dedicated, highly talented group that will move UC Davis Health forward.”

I look forward to leading this group forward as we make the necessary changes to thrive even in a time of challenge."—Mark Rosenblatt, Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences

Rosenblatt emphasized the importance of caring for one another and exhibiting grace and kindness as core values that he shares with his new workplace.

“We have to understand that health care workers have been through perhaps the hardest time in history. We had a generational pandemic that put a lot of stress on our health system, and more importantly, on our health care workers. They also face a world that has other challenges. And, this wears upon people, people who we care about, people who are part of UC Davis Health,” he said.

Rosenblatt brings deep experience in academic hospital systems and a record of collaboration across disciplines, learned from decades of experience. He describes his management philosophy as taking a servant leadership approach, working to highlight the integration between research, education, and clinical operations. 

And, he underscores the need to stay focused on the “quintuple aim” of health care, which focuses on improving quality of care, ensuring patient safety, enhancing the patient experience, promoting health equity, and supporting caregiver well-being.

An internationally recognized clinician-scientist, Rosenblatt still leads groups of scientists investigating the mechanism of corneal peripheral nerve regeneration following injury, and the use of nanoengineered biomaterials for use in stem cell delivery to the ocular surface. His research is widely published, including more than 225 original manuscripts, review articles, book chapters and abstracts.

Rosenblatt will continue his research at UC Davis, moving his lab here from Chicago.  He says some of the researchers have indicated they will be moving here as well to continue their work. 

Before rejoining UC Davis, he served as the G. Stephen Irwin executive dean at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, the chief executive officer of the University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics, and as a distinguished professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago, among other positions.

In the interview, he spoke about the value of innovation and finding new ways to overcome complex challenges.

“I look forward to leading this group forward as we make the necessary changes to thrive even in a time of challenge,” Rosenblatt said.

Watch the first introduction video with Mark Rosenblatt, Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences.