Since the beginning, our leaders wanted UC San Diego School of Medicine to be different than anywhere else—integrating basic science and the arts in medical education, pushing the boundaries of technology, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, and providing numerous hands-on clinical experiences starting the first year of medical school.

• 1964-1966 – Joseph Stokes III, MD
• 1967  – Robert Tschirgi, MD, PhD (interim)
• 1967-1973 – Clifford Grobstein, PhD
• 1973-1979 – John H. Moxley, MD
• 1979-1980 – Marvin Dunn, MD (interim)
• 1980-1981 – J. William Hollingsworth, MD (interim)
• 1981-1986 – Robert G. Petersdorf, MD
• 1986-1988 – Wayne Akeson, MD (interim)
• 1988-1992 – Gerard N. Burrow, MD
• 1992-1999 – John F. Alksne, MD
• 1999-2000 – David N. Bailey, MD (interim)
• 2000-2006 – Edward W. Holmes, MD
• 2006-2007 – David N. Bailey, MD (interim)
• 2007-2018 – David A. Brenner, MD
• 2018-present – Steven Garfin, MD (interim)