Rosalind Franklin University Names Aron Sousa, MD, FACP, as President and CEO

New president to build on legacy of innovation and partnership to advance health professions education, research and community health

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, a national leader in graduate health and biomedical professions education, announces the appointment of Aron Sousa, MD, FACP, as its next president and CEO. 

Dr. Sousa is the current Dean of the College of Human Medicine (CHM) at Michigan State University (MSU), one of the nation's foremost community-based medical schools. Throughout his 30-year career at MSU, Dr. Sousa has led transformative initiatives in medical education, research and community health, building partnerships that deliver lasting impact. Under his leadership, the college expanded its clinical and community campuses across Michigan, shaping access to medical education statewide and strengthening partnerships with health systems, communities and local leaders to better prepare physicians while improving community health.

Dr. Sousa's most transformative project has been the public health initiatives in Flint, Michigan. He was principal investigator on $37 million in grants from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to establish a downtown campus, expand public health research, and ultimately create the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, which has brought in more than $200 million in external funding to the community. The Flint expansion has advanced critical research on mental health, poverty, nutrition, and the effects of lead exposure in children during the city's 2014-2016 water crisis.

"Dr. Sousa's career reflects the values of Rosalind Franklin University, including innovation, interprofessional collaboration, and a commitment to serving communities," said Dr. Lee Sacks, chair of the Presidential Search Committee and member of the RFU Board of Trustees. "He has demonstrated how universities can work hand-in-hand with health systems, community leaders, and research partners to improve health outcomes and prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders."

"I am honored to join Rosalind Franklin University at this moment of growth and possibility, and to work together toward sanative communities and a stronger future," Dr. Sousa said. "The university has a strong tradition of innovation in health professions education and research. Together, with our faculty, students and partners, we can build on this tradition to help address the pressing health challenges facing our communities and our nation."

Dr. Sousa will officially assume office on Nov. 10, 2025. He succeeds retiring President and CEO Dr. Wendy Rheault — the first woman to serve in the office — who leaves the university in a position of strength, ready for its next chapter of growth and innovation.

A practicing general internist who helps train students and residents in clinical settings, Dr. Sousa also serves as executive dean for MSU Health Colleges. He earned his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, before completing his residency, chief residency and fellowship in primary care internal medicine at MSU. A Fellow of the American College of Physicians, he has been widely recognized for his leadership in academic medicine and community engagement.

About Rosalind Franklin University
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is committed to serving humanity through the interprofessional education of health and biomedical professionals and the discovery of knowledge dedicated to improving wellness. The university embodies the spirit of inquiry and excellence modeled by its namesake Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose Photo 51 was crucial to solving the structure of DNA. Recognized for its research in areas including neuroscience, brain-related diseases, inherited disorders, diabetes, obesity, and gait and balance, RFU encompasses the Chicago Medical School, College of Health Professions, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Learn more at rosalindfranklin.edu.

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SOURCE Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science