The president of Howard University, one of the top HBCUs in the country, announced on Sept. 22 the appointment of Andrea A. Hayes Dixon, M.D., FACS, FAAP as the school’s first Black woman Dean of College of Medicine. The position went into effect on Oct. 3, 2022.

“I am overjoyed to have the honor of announcing that for the first time in the college’s 154-year history, a Black woman will serve as the dean of the Howard University College of Medicine,” President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, announced. “If you look at the data on women’s leadership in medicine, it shows there is still much progress to be made. With the appointment of Dr. Hayes Dixon, Howard University not only gains an incredible leader, but we move the University and the field of medicine forward.”

This isn’t Dr. Dixon’s first rodeo in making history. Almost 20 years ago, Dr. Dixon became the first Black woman in the United States to become a board-certified pediatric surgeon. And in 2006, she became the first surgeon in the world to perform surgery on a rare form of abdominal cancer, saving the patient’s life. In 2021, Dr. Dixon became the first woman chair at the school’s Department of Surgery.

“I am truly honored and humbled to lead the outstanding Howard University College of Medicine,” Dr. Dixon stated. “The responsibility of educating the nation’s next generation of leaders in medicine is an enormous responsibility that I take very seriously. I am excited to engender allies and friends to join me in the journey of moving Howard forward.”

Before Howard, Dr. Hixon worked as the division chief of pediatric surgery and surgeon-in-chief for the University of North Carolina (UNC) Children’s Hospital. With the University of Texas (UT) MD Anderson Cancer Center, she served as the section chief of pediatric surgery. Dr. Dixon specializes in “refractory and resistant tumors in children” and has many requesting her services because of the rare diseases and conditions she has investigated.

She gained her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and received her Doctor of Medicine from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.

The last dean of the College of Medine was Hugh Mighty, MD, MBA, FACOG, who stated that the historical moment would contribute positively to the school.

This is an exciting moment in the history of the College of Medicine as we look forward to the continued rise of the University in training the next generation of medical leaders and providers,” Mighty, the senior vice president for health affairs, said. “Dr. Hayes will bring new experiences and vision to the mission of our historic College of Medicine.”

Dr. Dixon’s new role allows her to manage everything concerning the academic and administrative aspects of the College of Medicine.