David L. Callender, MD, MBA, FACS, became president of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston Sept. 1, 2007. He is the fifth president of the academic health center, which was established in 1891.

A Texas native, Dr. Callender served as the associate vice chancellor and CEO for the UCLA Hospital System from mid 2004 to 2007. In that role, he oversaw a health care system consisting of the 525-bed UCLA Medical Center and Mattel Children’s Hospital located in Westwood, the 280-bed Santa Monica–UCLA Medical Center located in Santa Monica, and the 136-bed Neuropsychiatric Hospital located in Westwood, as well as the Tiverton House, a 100-room facility for patients and their families. In fiscal year 2006, the UCLA Hospital System managed more than 38,000 admissions and 880,000 outpatient visits, with net revenue of approximately $1 billion.

Dr. Callender is a head and neck surgeon with a special interest in head and neck cancer. A 1984 graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, he completed his residency training in general surgery and otolaryngology at his alma mater in 1990. He went on to complete a fellowship in head and neck surgical oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He has authored a number of scientific and educational publications. Dr. Callender received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston in 1995.

Appointed to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center faculty in 1992 after completing his fellowship, Dr. Callender held a number of administrative posts there, including senior vice president and chief medical officer, vice president for clinical programs, and medical director of the Physicians Referral Service, before being appointed as executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2001. He has also served as an officer and board member of several non-profit organizations and as a member of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners.