Meet Dr. Hayes Dixon, The First Black Woman To Become Dean Of The Howard University College Of Medicine In Its 154-Year History

Dr. Hayes Dixon succeeds Hugh Mighty, who previously held the position since 2015.

“This is an exciting moment in the history of the College of Medicine as we look forward to the continued rise of the University in training the next generation of medical leaders and providers,” said Mighty, senior vice president for health affairs, according to a press release. “Dr. Hayes will bring new experiences and vision to the mission of our historic College of Medicine.”

Prior, Dixon served as a surgeon-in-chief and division chief of pediatric surgery, and professor of pediatric surgery and surgical oncology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Children’s Hospital.

Dixon will report to Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D., R.Ph., provost, and chief academic officer, per the press release. Her responsibilities will involve managing academic and administrative affairs.

Dixon’s title as dean went into effect on Oct. 3.

“I am truly honored and humbled to lead the outstanding Howard University College of Medicine,” said Dixon, according to a press release. “The responsibility of educating the nation’s next generation of leaders in medicine is an enormous responsibility that I take very seriously. I am excited to engender allies and friends to join me in the journey of moving Howard forward.”

Dixon previously obtained other accolades as she was also the first African American woman in the nation to become a board-certified pediatric surgeon in 2004. Two years later, she became the first surgeon across the globe to perform a high-risk surgery on a rare form of abdominal cancer, which fortunately kept the teen patient alive. In 2021, she scored another “first” with Howard University after becoming the woman chair of the Department of Surgery.

Dixon is on her way to moving Howard’s College of Medicine in a promising direction.

“I am overjoyed to have the honor of announcing that for the first time in the college’s 154-year history, a Black woman will serve as the dean of the Howard University College of Medicine,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick, according to a press release. “If you look at the data on women’s leadership in medicine, it shows there is still much progress to be made. With the appointment of Dr. Hayes Dixon, Howard University not only gains an incredible leader but we move the University and the field of medicine forward.”