Rate My Professor Deborah German

Deborah German, M.D., is the Vice President for Health Affairs and Founding Dean of the University of Central Florida College of Medicine within the Medicine faculty. She earned a B.S. in chemistry from Boston University and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, followed by residency in internal medicine at the University of Rochester and a fellowship in rheumatic and genetic diseases at Duke University. At Duke University Medical School, she served on the faculty, conducted research on adenosine metabolism at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, directed the Duke Gout Clinics, acted as Associate Dean of Medical Education, and maintained a private practice in internal medicine and rheumatology.

In 1988, Dr. German joined Vanderbilt University as Associate Dean for Students, advancing to Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education and National Chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Group on Student Affairs. She served on the Tennessee Medical Association Board of Trustees and chaired the Tennessee Arthritis Foundation Board. Later, as President and CEO of Saint Thomas Hospital and Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for Saint Thomas Health Services, she led a successful turnaround and quality initiatives. In 2005, she was a Petersdorf Scholar in Residence at the AAMC. Since her 2006 appointment at UCF, achievements include achieving full LCME accreditation, securing full four-year scholarships for the charter class—the first in U.S. history—building a team of over 900 faculty and staff, constructing 375,000 square feet of facilities, opening UCF Lake Nona Hospital and Cancer Center, expanding graduate medical education to over 720 residents and fellows, and launching UCF Health practices and a mobile health clinic. Her awards include the University of Rochester Hutchison Medal, AAMC Women in Medicine Leadership Development Award, 2008 Central Floridian of the Year, and 2023 Central Florida Woman of the Year. Dr. German chairs the Association of Academic Health Centers’ President’s Council on Learning Health Systems, serves on its board, and is a secretarial appointee to the VA National Academic Affiliations Council.