Charles Holmes, a renowned physician-scientist and global health leader, is set to become the next dean of the School of Public Health, pending approval from the Board of Regents on June 25. The appointment would take effect on July 1, 2026, succeeding Lynda Lisabeth, who has been interim dean since June 2025. Holmes’ recommendation was announced by Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, following a national search.
“Charles Holmes returns to Michigan with a rare view of public health’s full reach, from clinical care and research to national policy and global implementation,” McCauley stated. Holmes has been the director of Georgetown University’s Center for Innovation in Global Health since 2020 and holds positions as a professor of medicine and distinguished scholar at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.
Since 2023, Holmes has advised the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, focusing on global access and financing strategies, especially for tuberculosis vaccine candidates. His work has significantly influenced global HIV treatment and prevention strategies, contributing to World Health Organization guidelines and national policies.
“I am deeply honored to return to the University of Michigan School of Public Health as dean,” Holmes expressed, recalling his roots at the School of Public Health where he earned his Master of Public Health in epidemiology and international health in 1995.
Holmes played a pivotal role in the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), guiding policy and budget decisions for a $6.5 billion program. From 2012 to 2016, he led the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, securing over $150 million in new funding and strengthening global academic partnerships.
Holmes holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kalamazoo College, a medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine, and completed his medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The School of Public Health, ranked No. 4 by U.S. News & World Report, anticipates Holmes’ leadership to enhance its impact and public health education.
“At a time when public health is crucial, I look forward to working with faculty, students, and partners to advance solutions to some of society’s most important health challenges,” Holmes said.
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