Nancy Andrews, a physicianscientist and dean for basic sciences and graduate studies at Harvard Medical School, has been named dean of the Duke University School of Medicine.

"Nancy Andrews has exceptional achievements as a research scientist, she has experience administering a top-flight medical school and she cares passionately about medical education," President Richard Brodhead wrote in an e-mail. "In short, she is the whole package."

Andrews is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist, the former director of the Harvard-MIT M.D./Ph.D. program and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. She will not only be the first female dean of Duke's School of Medicine, but also the first woman to lead any of the nation's top 10 medical schools.

"I'm proud for Duke to have that distinction, but I'd add that excellence and diversity were completely complementary goals," Brodhead said. "She quickly emerged at the top of a very strong field."

Dr. Victor Dzau, president and CEO of Duke University Health System and chancellor for health affairs, said he has known Andrews for more than 10 years, and added that she has very unique qualifications as a physician-scientist. Dzau was previously chair of the Department of Medicine at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"She is a great fit [for Duke] because she is a physician-scientist and that is what Duke needs-someone who understands both the clinical and research aspects," he said. "She is also passionate about her students, and her positions as director of the Harvard-MIT. M.D.-Ph.D. program and the first woman dean of any of the top 10 medical schools make her a great role model."

Andrews wrote in an e-mail that she was shocked to discover that none of the nation's top medical schools has ever had a female dean.

"I think the fact that Duke is first is a good reflection of what I see in Duke-a university where tradition is valued, but innovation is a strong part of the culture," she said.

As dean, Andrews will be responsible for all the educational missions of the medical school, Dzau said.

"Duke is already ranked among the top 10 medical schools and we would like to see it go up further," he said. "With her background, we want her to look at medical education, our M.D.-Ph.D. program, and how to further create programs to attract more great students."

Andrews said she had been asked to consider deanships at many other schools, but Duke was the only one that stood out.

"I was particularly impressed by the fact that Duke has a long history of doing the kinds of things that other major medical schools are all talking about-for example, promoting interdisciplinary collaborations, strengthening clinical research and connecting science and policy," she said. "I have the impression that good ideas can quickly grow into new initiatives at Duke, and I find that very exciting."

Andrews will take over the position in October.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Duke community," she said. "I really like the fact that the medical school is attached to the rest of the University and embedded in a larger area with outstanding academic and industry science nearby."

With her experiences at Yale University-where she got her B.S. and M.S.-Harvard and MIT., Andrews will bring new perspectives to Duke, Dzau said.

"She can synergize and complement what we already have," he said. "Her perspectives from other institutions can help us look at what is the best practice and not just follow what we've been doing for the past few years. We're so excited about her. She's delightful and has such a warm personality. I think everybody will take to her and we look forward to working with her to bring Duke to greater heights."

Shreya Rao contributed to this story.