The University of Alabama at Birmingham announced Tuesday that Mark Merrick has been selected as Dean of the School of Health Professions after a nationwide search.
UAB said Merrick, the current dean and a professor in the University of Toledo’s College of Health and Human Services, brings extensive academic leadership experience and nationally recognized scholarship to the university.
“UAB’s School of Health Professions is a national leader in cutting-edge research and the education of the next generation of professionals focused on improving the health and well-being of people in the state and beyond,” Janet Woodruff-Borden, senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, said. “As dean, Dr. Merrick will help advance how the School of Health Professions defines and delivers its education, research, clinical services and community engagement, building on the unique strengths of the school and of UAB.”
Merrick will begin his new role July 1, 2026.
“UAB is an established global leader on countless fronts,” Merrick said. “It has a cohesive culture, a shared vision and a trusted, effective leadership team. The institution is not satisfied with resting on its laurels. Rather, UAB’s vision on where it will go next is what truly excites me.”
At the University of Toledo, Merrick oversees more than 35 health-focused degree and certificate programs. As dean, he led the merger of two colleges, increased scholarship funding and improved student retention rates.
Before that, Merrick spent 20 years as the founding director of The Ohio State University’s Athletic Training Division in the College of Medicine. In that role, he helped create the university’s Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training program and build it into a nationally prominent program. He also served on the faculties of Xavier University and Indiana State University.
“I am a people-first servant leader who brings a ‘can do’ mentality, clarity of direction and steadiness during change,” Merrick said. “This approach has allowed me to define my success through the success of the people and programs around me.”
Merrick is a fellow of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the National Academies of Practice and the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions. He is a former president of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, which awarded him its highest honor, the Pete Koehneke Award, in 2019. He also serves as a longtime member of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Global Forum on Innovation, helping shape the future of health professions education.
Merrick earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Toledo, a Master of Arts in athletic training from Indiana State University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toledo.
“Dr. Merrick’s years of student-centered leadership and commitment to research excellence and faculty success align strongly with UAB’s mission and values,” Woodruff-Borden said. “His proven contributions to the field of health professions will only continue the incredible momentum at the School of Health Professions.”
Merrick will succeed Andrew J. Butler, who as dean of the School of Health Professions oversaw record achievements in research funding, national rankings and student enrollment.
The school is now the fastest-growing at UAB and one of the largest health professions schools in the nation, with more than 20 programs and more than 40 offerings at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked the School of Health Professions No. 1 in the nation for health care management.
