Dr. Michael J. Stamos
Dean, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Dr. Michael J. Stamos is the dean of the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
During his tenure, the school has steadily climbed in national research stature and received the highest accreditation possible from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)/Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
In fiscal 2024, UC Irvine received $660 million in research awards, with more than $350 million attributed to the School of Medicine faculty. Over the past five years, the School of Medicine has averaged more than a 16% increase in awards year over year. The school has also grown annual philanthropic fundraising from just under $25 million in 2016 to over $150 million in FY24.
UCI Health and the UC Irvine School of Medicine have come together to build a new medical complex in south Orange County, UCI Health — Irvine, which began serving patients in April 2024 with the opening of the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care. The new medical center is the first medical center powered by an all-electric central utility plant in the nation. The complex also includes a major expansion of the National Cancer Institute-designated Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, wellness programs, urgent care, specialty disciplines, research and clinical trials and lifesaving surgical and acute care. This advanced health and science complex will allow us to attract top talents in medicine and research and develop a pipeline of physician-scientists to add to our world-class research.
Stamos has led the school’s effort to engage its diverse population in its commitment to inclusive excellence in medical education and sustainable change. Currently, 50% of the school’s executive leadership team are women. During his deanship, two of the school’s three mission-based programs – PRIME LEAD-ABC and HEAL-IM – have started. The Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC) program is a first-of-its-kind effort aimed at producing future physicians who are committed to serving these communities. The integrative health and wellness program Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM) is designed to provide a future generation of physicians with additional training and skills in the tools and philosophies of integrative medicine.
Finally, the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) is celebrating its 20th year of education and continues to train future physicians who are committed to work with Hispanic communities throughout Orange County and beyond. In a joint effort with the UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering, the School of Medicine is now offering the Physician Innovator Training Program, a leading-edge medical education program that will train a future generation of physician-engineers to tackle the world’s most complex medical issues.
Stamos was born in Miami, Florida, and received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his surgery internship and residency at the University of Miami / Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, and received additional fellowship training at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Stamos then moved west where he joined the UCLA faculty and worked primarily at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance as a busy clinician and division chief for 11 years. In 2002, he moved to UC Irvine and in 2010, he assumed the leadership role as chair of the Department of Surgery. In 2016, he was appointed dean of the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
