Dr. Costello to oversee health sciences enterprise, clinical relationships and affiliations with a focus on empowering better health outcomes and enhancing student experience
Deeply experienced new hire joins WSU from the University of Pittsburgh, a top U.S. health sciences enterprise
Wayne State University has selected Bernard Costello, M.D., D.M.D., to serve as its new senior vice president for Health Affairs. Dr. Costello will begin his work in this newly defined role at the university in early 2025, pending final approval from the Board of Governors at its Dec. 11 meeting.
Dr. Costello comes to Wayne State from the University of Pittsburgh, where he served as the associate vice chancellor for interdisciplinary education in health sciences and professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He has served as chief of Pediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Children's Hospital. Dr. Costello is a past president of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the American Academy of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.
To support the goals and impact of its Prosperity Agenda, Wayne State University undertook a national search to identify a collaborative, energetic leader to build upon the university’s previous academic, research and clinical successes. In this role, Dr. Costello will inspire and support faculty and staff toward enhanced research productivity, balanced with a commitment to preparing health care professionals for service in the field and successful careers.
“Dr. Costello joins our leadership team with extensive and successful academic and health care leadership at a $26B health system in Pittsburgh, and he’ll bring the strengths he honed there to Wayne State,” said Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy, Wayne State University president. “His familiarity with a thriving, urban R1 university will drive a new health affairs framework that will deliver exceptional outcomes for students, faculty, staff, patients and the community in Detroit and beyond.”
As a funded principal investigator, collaborator and senior administrator, Dr. Costello developed interdisciplinary teams to create innovations in regenerative medicine, as well as new companies based on that technology. Under his leadership, and collaborative approach, Pitt had tremendous success, including increased National Institutes of Health funding that propelled the institution into the top five in the United States, and overall educational rankings in the top 10 nationally and top 20 internationally. Pitt has been ranked in the top five for health sciences research in the U.S., with more than $1.2 billion in research expenditures.
“I’m eager to get to work with my new colleagues at Wayne State University to make a positive impact on our students, faculty, staff and community,” Dr. Costello said. “We have an impressive history, tremendous intellectual capital, and a focus on the mission that provides a strong foundation for the evolution of education and health care delivery in Detroit and beyond.”
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D., applauded the hire.
“I am confident in the immense positive impact that Dr. Costello will make on our faculty and students, as well as our city, region and state,” Dr. Clabo said. “His extensive experience and collaborative approach will support and enhance our efforts to serve our community and the university in these vital areas.”
The nationwide competitive search included the participation of individuals throughout the Wayne State community. President Espy thanked the members of the search advisory committee for their outstanding work, as well as those who took time to participate in open forums and discussion sessions.