Baylor College of Medicine names new leader: Jakub…

Currently dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School and vice president for clinical affairs at the University of Minnesota

HOUSTON -- (Jan. 15, 2026) -- The Board of Trustees of Baylor College of Medicine has named Dr. Jakub Tolar as its new president, CEO and executive dean beginning July 1, 2026. He will succeed Dr. Paul Klotman, who is retiring June 30 after successfully leading Baylor for over 15 years.

Baylor College of Medicine is important globally, nationally, and in the State of Texas. It ranks as the top medical school in Texas and generates the most National Institute of Health-funded research of any institution in Texas. Baylor provides nearly half of the physicians to the largest medical center in the world through the Baylor Medicine Clinic, the Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, and its affiliates, including Texas Children's Hospital, Harris Health, the DeBakey Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, the Menninger Clinic and TIRR Memorial Hermann, as well as CHRISTUS Children's in San Antonio and Baylor Scott & White in Temple. Baylor is also home to the National Cancer Institute-designated Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and to the Texas Heart Institute.

The search process for the new BCM President reflected the global attractiveness of the position. In total, 179 candidates either applied or were nominated, the search firm interviewed 44 candidates, the Board of Trustees Search Committee interviewed ten candidates, and the entire Board of Trustees interviewed the final four. This rigorous process resulted in the enthusiastic selection of Dr. Tolar.

Greg Brenneman, Chair of the Baylor College of Medicine Board and of the Search Committee, said, "Dr. Tolar is highly accomplished across BCM's tripartite mission of research, patient care and education, as well as community service. His work in expanding the use of AI in education, research and the clinic; driving extensive clinical trials and commercialization; growing a profitable clinic footprint and market share; growing physician education and building impactful relationships with affiliate partners stood out to us. We look forward to Dr. Tolar working with BCM's outstanding faculty and staff to take us to new heights. We are also grateful for Dr. Klotman's terrific leadership over the past 15 years."

Dr. Tolar, 59, is currently the Dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS) and the vice-president for clinical affairs at the University of Minnesota. He is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy.

An internationally recognized physician and researcher, Tolar is known for his care of patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a severe genetic skin disorder. His research is focused on developing cellular therapies for rare genetic disorders, such as mucopolysaccharidosis type I, adrenoleukodystrophy, Fanconi anemia and dyskeratosis congenita. He plans to continue his research at Baylor.

"It is a profound honor of mine to join Baylor College of Medicine, and to have the opportunity to continue the outstanding work of Dr. Klotman and his team. The achievements and foundation here, as well as the potential of BCM to advance medicine and health in new and impactful ways across all missions are unmatched. My family and I are delighted to be joining the Houston community, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together."

Originally from the Czech Republic, Tolar received his medical degree in Prague from Charles University. In 1992, he arrived at the University of Minnesota, where he received his Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology and Genetics. He completed his residency in pediatrics from the University of Minnesota Medical Center in 2000 and completed fellowships in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota's Institute of Human Genetics.

He became Dean of the Medical School in 2017 and Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Chair of the Board of Directors of University of Minnesota Physicians (the multi-specialty group practice for the UMMS) in 2018.

In addition to these academic roles, Dr. Tolar co-led the joint clinical enterprise, a partnership between Fairview Health Services, UMMS, and M Physicians. These three entities comprise M Health Fairview, the second-largest academic health system in the State of Minnesota, with annual revenues of $7B and 34,000 employees. Previous appointments in Minnesota included Executive Vice Dean of the medical school and Director of the University of Minnesota's Stem Cell Institute.

Dr. Tolar has received numerous honors for research, teaching, public engagement, and service. He has been an NIH-funded researcher for 20 years, working as an active investigator in clinical trials. Dr. Tolar has had more than 200 medical peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Tolar serves as a graduate school faculty member in Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology; Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Genetics and Stem Cell Biology, serves as a mentor for graduate students and faculty members, and is an attending physician in the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant program at M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital.

He will be the sixth president in Baylor's history in succeeding Dr. Klotman, who will continue to have an adjunct appointment as professor of medicine.

Dr. Tolar describes his family as his sustaining force. He and his wife Simona have three children and two grandchildren. Dr. Tolar's interests include outdoor activities, such as kayaking and running; reading history; listening to classical music; cooking; and outings with his grandchildren.