The Wang Era (2020–2025)

When Thomas Wang stepped into the role of Chair of Internal Medicine in February 2020, the world was on the brink of a crisis few could have imagined. Reports of a mysterious viral outbreak in Wuhan, China had begun to surface, and a handful of cases had already appeared in the United States. Within weeks, the first confirmed case in Seattle would become a harbinger of what was to come. The stage was set for one of the most tumultuous periods in modern medical history.

Meeting the Moment

Assuming leadership of UT Southwestern’s largest department is a formidable challenge under any circumstances. To do so on the eve of a global pandemic was extraordinary. Yet Dr. Wang met the moment with clarity and resolve. As COVID-19 swept across the country, he mobilized resources at lightning speed, coordinating care for surging patient volumes, safeguarding faculty and trainees, and ensuring the Department remained anchored in its mission. Vaccines were still a distant hope, and personal protective equipment was in short supply. Out of an abundance of caution, and mindful of the devastation unfolding in the Northeast, Dr. Wang made the difficult decision to keep residents from directly caring for COVID-19 patients until vaccines became available and PPE shortages were resolved. It was a choice rooted in principle: Protect the people who make the department what it is.

Turning Adversity into Opportunity

Even as the pandemic tested every facet of healthcare, Dr. Wang’s leadership extended beyond crisis management. He saw opportunity in adversity, a chance to reimagine training, strengthen programs, and build for the future. Under his guidance, the department expanded the Physician-Scientist Training Program, launched five new fellowship programs, enriched the residency experience with innovative, mission-driven tracks, onboarded more than 400 new faculty, and grew its clinical volume and research expenditures by 50%. These achievements unfolded against a backdrop of political and social upheaval that demanded resilience and adaptability at every turn.

When Dr. Wang was appointed Dean of Michigan Medicine in July 2025, he left behind a Department that was considerably larger, more research-focused, clinically vibrant, and better prepared for future challenges. As Ezra Burstein, a former UT Southwestern resident, stepped in as Interim Chair, he inherited not only a Department of exceptional caliber but a vision of excellence that will continue to guide its path.