A Legacy of Transforming Medical Education: Dr. Latha Chandran Retires from the Miller School of Medicine
After leading the NextGenMD curriculum, faculty development programs and major educational initiatives, Latha Chandran, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., steps down from her Miller School leadership roles while leaving a foundation for future students, educators and physician leaders.
After a distinguished career shaping future physicians, advancing educational excellence and championing faculty leaders, Latha Chandran, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., executive dean for education and policy, the Bernard J. Fogel Chair in Medical Education and founding chair of the Department of Medical Education at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is stepping down from her leadership roles.
A nationally recognized leader in medical education, Dr. Chandran leaves behind a legacy defined by vision, mentorship, scholarship and an unwavering commitment to learner success. Throughout her career, she guided thousands of physician leaders to become not only academically prepared but also equipped with compassion, resilience and the curiosity needed to meet the evolving challenges of health care.
“Dr. Chandran transformed medical education at the Miller School,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer at the Miller School. “Her legacy will live on in the multitude of students and faculty she mentored, the programs she created and many others she strengthened and the culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence she helped build. We are deeply grateful for her service and for the lasting contributions to our great institution.”
Building the NextGenMD Curriculum
When Dr. Chandran was recruited to the Miller School in 2020, amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she quickly partnered with Dean Ford and the medical education team to lead the development and implementation of the NextGenMD curriculum, a comprehensive reimagining of how future physicians are educated.
Designed for modern learners and a rapidly changing health care environment, NextGenMD places students in clinical settings earlier in their education, integrates scientific discovery with patient care and fosters professional identity formation from the first day of medical school. The approach gives students more opportunities to explore specialties, engage in research, serve communities and develop the critical thinking and leadership skills required for contemporary medical practice.
“Dr. Chandran was able to gain and build the trust of all stakeholders and navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic to launch the NextGenMD curriculum, leading us to the great educational successes we enjoy today,” said Amar Deshpande, M.D., clinical professor of medicine and senior associate dean for medical education and policy at the Miller School. “And in the process, she created a culture of warmth, inclusion and excellence.”
Under Dr. Chandran’s leadership, the Miller School achieved full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education for the maximum eight-year term in 2025. The outcome reflected broad collaboration across the academic and clinical community and underscored the strength of the school’s medical education enterprise. Two years earlier, Dr. Chandran was able to lead the medical school’s activities to receive the International ASPIRE Award for Excellence in Social Accountability by the International Association for Health Professions Education.
Developing Faculty Members and Future Leaders
As founding chair of the Department of Medical Education, Dr. Chandran also directed the Academy of Medical Education Scholars, expanded faculty development opportunities and advanced leadership training through programs such as Leadership Education and Academic Development (LEAD) and the Advanced Program in Leadership (APL) for department chairs. Recognizing emerging opportunities in health care education, she helped catalyze one of the nation’s first offices dedicated to advancing the role of artificial intelligence in medical education.
“These are not small accomplishments,” said Gauri Agarwal, M.D., professor of clinical medicine and senior associate dean for curriculum at the Miller School. “They are the evidence of vision and wisdom. She has given us a foundation that is spacious enough for us to sculpt what comes next.”
A National Career in Medical Education
Prior to joining the Miller School, Dr. Chandran built an accomplished career at Stony Brook University, where she rose through the academic ranks to become a tenured professor, interim chair of pediatrics, the Miriam and David Donoho Distinguished Educator and vice dean for academic and faculty affairs. She also served as director of the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Throughout her career, Dr. Chandran has held numerous national leadership positions, including president of the Academic Pediatric Association and treasurer and vice chair of the National Board of Medical Examiners. She co-founded the Academic Pediatric Association’s Educational Scholars Program, an initiative that has trained more than 250 junior pediatric faculty members nationwide and earned national recognition for excellence in teaching.
Her contributions to medicine and medical education have garnered widespread recognition. Most recently, she received the Sushruta Charaka Award from the Association of Indians in America, the organization’s highest honor for extraordinary contributions to medicine. In 2026, Dr. Chandran received the Outstanding Woman in Education, Health and Innovation award from the Parks Foundation of Miami Dade County.
Whether guiding faculty members, supporting students or developing future educational leaders, Dr. Chandran consistently emphasized the importance of humanism in medicine. She championed learning environments where individuals could thrive personally and professionally while remaining focused on the ultimate goal of improving patient care.
“Throughout her tenure, Dr. Chandran distinguished herself not only through her own leadership, but through her remarkable ability to develop leadership in others,” said Hilit Mechaber, M.D., senior associate dean for student affairs at the Miller School. “Her mentorship, wisdom and dedication to faculty development have strengthened our institution and empowered countless colleagues to thrive and lead.”
On August 21, Dr. Chandran served as the inaugural Laurence B. Gardner, M.D., Distinguished Speaker at the Miller School’s Class of 2030 White Coat and Pinning Ceremony, bringing her career full circle by addressing students at the start of their own medical journeys. She reflected on the values that have guided her life’s work, including service, compassion, lifelong learning and dedication to others.
“May each of you continue to flourish while growing into a deeply compassionate, eminently qualified and superbly moral physician who will touch the lives of many who suffer,” said Dr. Chandran.
Though she is stepping away from her leadership roles at the university, she will continue to advance the LEAD and APL faculty development programs. Barry Issenberg, M.D., professor of medical education and director of the Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education, has succeeded Dr. Chandran as chair of the Department of Medical Education.
“As the inaugural chair of the Department of Medical Education, Dr. Chandran created a foundation of excellence that will benefit generations to come,” said Dr. Issenberg. “It is an honor to follow in her footsteps and build upon the remarkable legacy she leaves behind.”
Other leadership updates:
• Gauri Agarwal, M.D., has been promoted to senior associate dean for curriculum
• Amar Deshpande, M.D., has been promoted to senior associate dean for education and policy
• Sarah Bland, M.D., has been promoted to assistant dean for curriculum
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Tags: Dean Henri Ford, Department of Medical Education, Dr. Barry Issenberg, Dr. Gauri Agarwal, Dr. Latha Chandran, medical education, NextGen M.D.