Harvard Medical Dean to Rejoin Faculty

The dean of Harvard Medical School has announced that he plans to step down from the position next summer.

Jeffrey Flier announced Thursday that he will leave office on July 31 after nine years on the job, take a one-year sabbatical and then rejoin the faculty. He has been on the faculty since 1978.

Flier said in a statement on the school's website that he informed Harvard University President Drew Faust of his decision last week.

He called his time as dean "an extraordinary honor and privilege."

During his tenure, Flier oversaw an overhaul of the medical school's curriculum; strengthened ties with industry; and forged better collaboration with its affiliated teaching hospitals. He also made the difficult decision to close the school's primate research center.