From medical student to chancellor: David McManus charts UMass Chan’s next chapter

When David D. McManus, MD'02, ScM'12, MBA, arrived at UMass Chan Medical School as a medical student in 1998, he embarked on a remarkable journey to becoming a renowned physician-scientist, a leader in digital medicine, an esteemed faculty member and an inspiring mentor. He has now reached another milestone, as a homegrown leader and the seventh chancellor of UMass Chan Medical School.

On June 29, Chancellor McManus became the first alumnus to lead the institution.

"It means the world to me to lead UMass Chan. It's an honor to carry forward the legacy of the students and alumni who have been through this great institution," McManus said. "It is a privilege and an opportunity to lead a world-class medical school that gave me my medical education and provided me with a great career."

McManus succeeds Michael F. Collins, MD, professor of population & quantitative health sciences and medicine, the longest-serving chancellor in University of Massachusetts history at 19 years.

"It is a privilege and an opportunity to lead a world-class medical school that gave me my medical education and provided me with a great career." Chancellor David D. McManus said.

McManus credited mentorship, teamwork and humility as keys to shaping the progression of his career from medical student to cardiologist and department chair. He said those same values, as well as integrity, transparency and accountability, will be the hallmarks of a successful chancellorship.

"Collaborative is a word that comes to mind when considering my experiences at UMass Chan. We've always been about advancing together, and that's more than just our slogan. There's always been someone here who's lifted me up, and I want to make sure that UMass Chan is a place that provides that type of experience for everybody," McManus said.

McManus is particularly proud of having advised and mentored more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students, interns, research staff, postdoctoral trainees, and faculty members.

One of those mentees, Hawa Abu, MD, PhD'19, MPH, assistant professor of medicine and a geriatrician at UMass Memorial Health, spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher in the McManus lab studying cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Abu said McManus helped shape the direction of her career.

"Dr. McManus thrives on seeing his mentees succeed. That's a great passion for him, and he truly cares," Abu said. "He helped me with choosing the path I'm on now."

McManus earned his MD from the T.H. Chan School of Medicine in 2002, a master's degree in clinical investigation from the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMass Chan in 2012 and an Executive MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management in 2025. He is a Massachusetts native and earned his undergraduate degree in biological sciences from Brown University. He met his wife, Diana McManus, MD'02, while they were medical students at UMass Chan.

A practicing cardiologist and member of UMass Memorial Medical Group, McManus joined the Department of Medicine at UMass Chan and UMass Memorial Health in 2009. In January 2021, he was appointed chair of the Department of Medicine, where he oversaw 16 divisions, nearly 400 faculty members, 80 principal investigators and more than $70 million in annual research funding. He built a culture of innovation and excellence that has made UMass Chan a destination for top academic talent, while expanding research programs and improving the department's overall performance.

McManus is founding director of UMass Chan's Program in Digital Medicine and has secured more than $140 million in NIH funding and published more than 400 scientific papers focused on digital medicine and cardiovascular care. Throughout his career, he has led efforts to train the next generation of healthcare innovators and researchers through programs funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Notably, he was the principal investigator on the $123 million Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics, or RADx, grant, awarded by the NIH during the COVID-19 pandemic to bring innovative strategies for testing that proved essential to safeguarding community health and slowing disease spread. The RADx grant is the largest research award in University of Massachusetts history.

Apurv Soni, MD, PhD'21, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Program in Digital Medicine, said McManus is well positioned to advance UMass Chan because of his scientific expertise and strategic leadership. Dr. Soni said McManus's vision for digital medicine, in particular, could create change agents and platforms for innovation at UMass Chan, distinguishing the institution as a leader in the field.

"I think a lot of leaders would want to say we want AI to revolutionize our industry. That requires knowledge not just of technology but of the socio-cultural component that enables technology to make a difference. That's the part that Dr. McManus is uniquely positioned to do in ways that not many could," Soni said.

Among his goals as chancellor are listening to and learning from the UMass Chan community to refine campus priorities and supporting a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem; enhancing operations and diversify revenue support; and identifying new ways to partner with UMass Memorial and UMass Chan's other clinical partners.

"I've lived here for 20 years, and I've seen this whole community benefit from UMass Chan. I feel very privileged to continue to and build on that tradition because this is my community." Chancellor David D. McManus said.

David Hatem, MD, professor emeritus of medicine, met McManus in 2001, when McManus was a fourth-year medical student and doing a sub-internship in Dr. Hatem's clinic. Over 25 years, their relationship has evolved from mentor and mentee to professional colleagues.

Hatem pointed to McManus' positive outlook, ability to balance a broad vision with attention to detail, fundraising abilities and commitment to career development, as testaments to his capability to move the institution forward.

"Dr. McManus represents the next phase of the institution, as someone with a proven track record, who knows the institution and can hit the ground running," Hatem said.

McManus said UMass Chan is well positioned to make an even greater impact across education, research and in the community.

"UMass Chan is a place that brings together top-notch scientists with excellent educators and fantastic clinicians in a very special way," McManus said. "I would like our research to have a meaningful impact on patients, strengthen our global presence and continue to have a level of production that is competitive with the best institutions in the world."

"At the same time, I want us to continue to be known as the jewel of the commonwealth. UMass Chan has totally transformed the region," McManus said. "I've lived here for 20 years, and I've seen this whole community benefit from UMass Chan. I feel very privileged to continue to and build on that tradition because this is my community."