Dr. Burks has served as CEO and Dean since Dec. 2018. His last day in his current roles at UNC will be Sept. 1, 2025.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – UNC Health CEO and UNC School of Medicine Dean Dr. Wesley Burks announced his decision to step down from his roles to focus more efforts on the development of North Carolina Children’s, as well as spend more time with his family and tend to a family member’s increasing health needs. His last day in his current roles at UNC will be Sept. 1, 2025.
Dr. Burks has served as CEO and Dean since Dec. 2018. His prior roles at UNC-Chapel Hill included executive dean for UNC School of Medicine, chair of Department of Pediatrics, and physician-in-chief of UNC Children’s Hospital.
“It has been an incredible honor to lead UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine and to work alongside such dedicated, talented teammates. When I started my career, I never imagined I would end up in this place and in this role, but I can’t think of any better place to conclude my time as CEO and Dean,” Dr. Burks said.
During Dr. Burks’ tenure, UNC Health has expanded its impact significantly by adding multiple hospitals, network providers and establishing new clinical and educational partnerships across the state to improve the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina. UNC Health also announced plans to build N.C. Children’s, a new enterprise that will be anchored by the state’s first freestanding children’s hospital, in partnership with Duke Health.
Dr. Burks has been a featured speaker for national healthcare leaders, discussing industry trends and the future of healthcare. He also serves as a member of the Becker’s Healthcare Advisory Board, a national group of health system CEOs who advise the publication on trends in health and healthcare. An internationally renowned expert on food allergies, Dr. Burks and his colleagues lead groundbreaking clinical studies that are the basis for peanut allergy treatment regimens.
“Dr. Burks has led our state’s health system with the utmost integrity and passion for improving the health and well-being of North Carolinians,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “He led the health system through some significant issues while ensuring it provided outstanding patient care, increased research, educated more students than ever, and grew to serve countless more North Carolinians with the highest quality care.”
“Every time I had a conversation with Dr. Burks, he always focused on two groups of people – our patients and teammates,” said UNC Health Board Chair Greg Wessling. “He was steadfast in ensuring every decision made took into account the impact on those two groups. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his outstanding service to our state.”
“From his time leading UNC Children’s to his time as executive dean through his current role as dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Burks has always been committed to ensuring UNC-Chapel Hill had the leading public school of medicine in the country,” said UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “Dr. Burks’ belief in mentorship and training for the next generation of care providers will leave a lasting footprint on our state for generations to come. All of us, and I especially, will miss his wisdom, insight, dedication and even keel.”
UNC System President Peter Hans has appointed Dr. Cristy Page, president of UNC Health Enterprises and chief academic officer, to serve as interim CEO and Dean when Dr. Burks steps down. The UNC System, UNC Health and UNC-Chapel Hill will then initiate a search for the next CEO and Dean.
About UNC Health
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 20 hospitals and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine. It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina SOM. UNC Health provided more than $800 million in Uncompensated Charity Care during the past five years. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety and the overall patient experience. For more information, please visit unchealth.org.
