Dear UT Health San Antonio faculty and staff:
I am pleased to announce that after a competitive national search, Michael Charlton, PhD, has been selected as the new vice president for facilities and capital planning. He officially starts in the role June 1.
This new position is responsible for the strategic planning and management of all current and future UT Health San Antonio buildings, campus conditions and associated facilities and systems, which includes developing a facility plan ensuring appropriate maintenance and operations. The position also oversees all capital construction projects including new builds and renovation of existing buildings. This position has responsibility for environmental health and safety operations, business continuity and risk management, as well.
In May 2021, as associate vice president for facilities, safety and risk management, Dr. Charlton assumed an expanded role over facilities operations and renovations, adding to his responsibilities for environmental health and safety and risk management. During these past two years, Mr. Jim Kazen, in his role as executive vice president, has continued to provide oversight to capital construction projects. These roles are now combined as part of a reorganization under the vice president for facilities and capital planning to configure our facilities maintenance, operations, energy management, renovations, design and capital construction activities along with safety, risk management and business continuity, into a cohesive and seamless unit under one leader to fully support the institution’s expansive growth.
Dr. Charlton started his tenure at UT Health San Antonio in 2000 as the director/institutional safety officer and was promoted to assistant vice president for risk management and safety, and then to associate vice president for facilities, safety and risk management. He has successfully established credibility both internally and externally and has exhibited the ability to effectively lead and navigate the organization amid substantial change.
His leadership throughout the pandemic was outstanding and steadfast, ensuring UT Health San Antonio’s response was well coordinated and fully supported. Dr. Charlton has also demonstrated his commitment to the educational mission for more than 15 years at our university in his roles as adjunct associate professor and program director, medical health physics in radiology, and as adjunct assistant professor in occupational and environmental health at the San Antonio campus of UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. His commitment to excellence in facility operations and education has led to numerous awards in the last two years including Student Advocate of the Year (2022), Star Educator, Long School of Medicine (2022), Presidential Excellence Award for Teamwork – Facilities Management (2022), and Presidential Excellence Award for Teamwork – Environmental Health and Safety (2021).
Dr. Charlton received his PhD in health physics, master’s degree in health physics and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Texas A&M University. He also has a master’s degree in public health from the UT Health Science Center at Houston, along with numerous certifications in medical and health physics, industrial hygiene, hazardous materials and safety. He has been married to his wife, Jill, for 24 years and they have three children, Meredith (20), Maxwell (16), and Annabelle (15). In his spare time, Dr. Charlton is an active outdoor enthusiast and enjoys camping, hiking, backpacking and golfing.
This new leadership role is critical to the strategic planning, operations and sustainability needed for us to continue to deliver on our missions at UT Health San Antonio. Many thanks to Patrick Kaminski, vice president and chief strategy officer, for chairing this search and the members of the search advisory committee for conducting a comprehensive search.
I would also like to express my sincere thanks and recognition of Mr. Kazen, who has capably led the facilities and capital teams for more than 20 years and has been instrumental in developing and mentoring Dr. Charlton to assume this executive leadership position. With the appointment of Dr. Charlton to this role, Mr. Kazen will assume the role of senior adviser to the president and will continue to support me and the Office of the President with external relationships, which he capably manages now, allowing for ongoing succession support and a seamless transition continuing his contribution to our important missions.
Sincerely,
Andrea Marks
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer