Welcome Back, Mark Rosenblatt: First Day as Vice Chancellor
(SACRAMENTO)
On a foggy, crisp Jan. 21 morning, a new chapter of leadership dawned at UC Davis Health.
Mark Rosenblatt, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor for Human Health Sciences, launched a fast-paced first day on campus with a breakfast meeting alongside the Council of Chairs and Center Directors, followed later by afternoon discussions with faculty, staff, and medical leaders across the organization.
It was a “homecoming” for him, the former UC Davis Health junior faculty member said.
I’m so pleased to be back at UC Davis – it feels like coming home.”
—Mark Rosenblatt, Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences
Over the next several months, Rosenblatt plans a listening tour to gain valuable feedback from employees and learn more about what Northern California’s top academic medical center has accomplished in recent years. He will oversee the health system’s research, education, and patient care.
“My job is to help bring all of that together into a unified vision strategy,” Rosenblatt said during an interview with Pamela Wu, director of news and media relations at UC Davis Health. He noted the importance of patient care discoveries and educating the next generation of physicians and scientists.
In an earlier interview, Rosenblatt said his return to UC Davis Health fills him with a sense of rooted purpose. “I’m so pleased to be back at UC Davis – it feels like coming home.”
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.
‘Take care of each other’
In the early afternoon, the UC Davis Staff Assembly, Health Chapter, hosted a welcoming lunch for Rosenblatt in the North Addition Office Building. They shared stories and merriment over sandwiches and salads, and Rosenblatt encouraged conversation about the organizational culture where every member feels valued.
“He’s a great addition to the institution,” said Stefan Toma, a former chair of the Staff Assembly.
Rosenblatt describes his management philosophy as taking a servant leadership approach, working to highlight the integration between research, education, and clinical operations.
After the luncheon, Rosa Gomez Rodriguez, Staff Assembly’s finance chair and project manager in Experience Design, said, “It was great to see that he’s willing to hear other people’s perspectives, not just executive presentations. He wanted to hear firsthand what we as employees experience.”
Kelsey McCann, Staff Assembly’s communications chair and a clinical applications professional in IT, said, “Dr. Rosenblatt was very interested in employee health, making sure the staff are well taken care of, because then we can take care of our patients.”
Krista Newberry, Staff Assembly’s events co-chair and a student success navigator in the School of Medicine, said, “He’s formerly from UC Davis. He knows our focus is on the community, and that service is part of our core. That has to be part of our mission: to take care of each other before we can go back and serve the community.”
Staff Assembly leaders, after the meeting, issued a joint email noting that “conversations ranged from emphasizing the pivotal role that Staff Assembly (health chapter) plays in elevating employees’ voices, liaison with leadership, and building a stronger staff community through our many events.”
‘Awesome first day’
During the day, Rosenblatt attended meetings with the General Faculty and the Medical Staff Executive Committee, and received the traditional IT and computer setup visit, as every new team member does.
Plus, he received the first of many-to-come high-level briefings into an array of topics, including UC Davis Health’s finances, which he will oversee.
Just a start, and one day on campus – much more to come.
“It’s been an awesome first day,” said Nick Eversole, assistant vice chancellor, human health sciences and chief of staff to the vice chancellor.
Research leadership
Before rejoining UC Davis, Rosenblatt 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.
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.
“UC Davis is a leader in neuroscience and also in regenerative medicine. My laboratory is looking at neural regeneration,” he said.
He is a graduate of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Honors Program in Medical Education and the Combined M.D./Ph.D. program, receiving his Ph.D. in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology.
