WORCESTER—UMass Chan Medical School will soon be led by one of its own.
Dr. David D. McManus, a nationally recognized cardiologist, researcher and longtime faculty leader at UMass Chan and UMass Memorial Health, has been named the next chancellor of the Worcester-based medical school, university officials announced Tuesday.
The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees unanimously approved McManus’ nomination at a special meeting, making him the first alumnus to lead the institution. McManus earned his medical degree from UMass Chan in 2002 and a master’s degree in clinical investigation from the school in 2012. He also recently earned an Executive MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management in 2025.
McManus succeeds Dr. Michael F. Collins, who announced in June 2025 that he would step down in June 2026 after nearly two decades as chancellor.
UMass President Marty Meehan described McManus as uniquely positioned to lead the institution forward.
“Dr. McManus is the right leader to guide UMass Chan Medical School into the future,” Meehan said in the announcement. “His pioneering work in digital healthcare and AI, his deep experience in both the clinical and research fields, and his vision and collaborative nature, reflect the very best of UMass Chan.”
McManus currently serves as the Richard M. Haidack Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at UMass Chan and UMass Memorial Health, a role he has held since 2020. In that position, he oversees 16 divisions, more than 370 faculty members, 80 principal investigators, and more than $70 million in annual research funding, according to the announcement.
He is also the founding director of UMass Chan’s Program in Digital Medicine, has secured more than $140 million in National Institutes of Health funding, and has published more than 400 scientific papers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, McManus served as principal investigator on a Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics grant from the NIH aimed at advancing testing strategies.
In 2026, he was also recognized as an Innovator in Healthcare by the Boston Business Journal.
“As a graduate and a faculty member, I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve as a steward of this world-class medical school,” McManus said in a statement. “The groundbreaking discoveries that happen in laboratories at UMass Chan Medical School, in the classroom, and at the bedside, are life-changing, and I will work tirelessly alongside the exceptional faculty, staff, students, and community to continue advancing together.”
UMass Board of Trustees Chairman Stephen Karam said McManus’ background and leadership experience made him the strongest candidate.
“Because of his background, experience, and character, Dr. McManus is simply the best person to lead UMass Chan during this period of immense transformation in medicine, society, research, and medical education,” Karam said in the announcement.
McManus, a native of Acton, earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University and completed his internal medicine residency at the University of California, San Francisco. He later returned to UMass Chan to complete fellowships in cardiovascular medicine and clinical cardiac electrophysiology.
Leaders from across the UMass system and UMass Memorial Health praised the appointment.
Dr. Eric Dickson, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health, said McManus has already made a significant impact in Central Massachusetts.
“We can’t imagine a more talented and thoughtful leader to undertake the role of Chancellor than Dr. David McManus, who has already left an indelible mark on the lives of countless patients throughout Central Massachusetts,” Dickson said in the announcement.
Outgoing Chancellor Collins also pledged support during the transition.
“It’s an important moment in the history of an institution when a distinguished alumnus can assume this most important leadership position of his alma mater,” Collins said in the announcement.
McManus emerged from a national search that reviewed more than 100 candidates. A search committee interviewed 10 finalists and ultimately recommended four candidates to Meehan before McManus was selected, according to the announcement.
UMass Chan Medical School, based in Worcester, includes the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, ForHealth Consulting, and MassBiologics. The institution is consistently ranked among the nation’s top medical schools for primary care education and biomedical research, according to U.S. News & World Report.
McManus is expected to assume the role in 2026 following Collins’ departure.
