The University of Kansas Medical Center announced that Garold Minns, M.D., professor of internal medicine and dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, will transition to the role of dean emeritus. Minns has been dean of the Wichita campus since 2012.

Laura Tatpati, M.D., associate dean for undergraduate medical education in Wichita and clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology, will assume the role of interim dean of the Wichita campus, effective April 15, 2025.

In his new role as dean emeritus, Minns will serve as a mentor and advisor and will retain his role overseeing KU’s efforts establishing the Wichita Biomedical Campus.

Minns has a long history with the Wichita campus of KU School of Medicine. A member of the second class to graduate from the Wichita campus when he finished in 1976, he completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in infectious diseases, both at KU. He joined the faculty of the Wichita campus in 1980 and served as residency program director in 1982 and as associate dean for academic and student affairs in 1992.

Under Minns’ leadership, the Wichita campus successfully expanded from a two-year campus to a four-year campus, growing the student body by more than 80%. His contributions have been recognized through numerous internal and external awards, including the Rainbow Award, the W.T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence Award and the Thor Jager Award. Minns also has served the Wichita community through his work on the Kansas Board of Healing Arts and as Sedgwick County health officer. Minns also was awarded the American College of Physicians Mastership, which recognizes distinguished contributions to medicine nationally.

“This phased approach will foster continuity during a period of change as it leverages Dr. Minns’ institutional knowledge and experience in combination with Dr. Tatpati’s academic and leadership skillsets, as well as her understanding of the campus culture and engagement in the local medical community,” said Akinlolu Ojo, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, executive dean of KU School of Medicine.

As interim campus dean, Tatpati will be the designated principal academic officer, overseeing school operations spanning all mission areas on the Wichita campus and reporting to the executive dean.

Tatpati steps into this role after managing the administration of the medical education program curriculum on the Wichita campus for the last three years. She has been a faculty member since 2007 and continues her clinical practice as a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Wichita. Tatpati earned her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees from Creighton University before completing a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at KU School of Medicine-Wichita and a clinical fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the Mayo Clinic.

“I look forward to continuing my teaching and clinical duties as a faculty member of KU School of Medicine-Wichita while I assist Dr. Tatpati as she takes on her role as dean,” said Minns.