Jonathan Efron, M.D., joined UT Southwestern Medical Center in December as Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs. Responsible for the institution’s entire clinical enterprise, he oversees UT Southwestern’s Medical Group, hospitals, regional medical centers, and clinics, which care for nearly 5 million patients each year. He also holds an appointment as Professor of Surgery.

An accomplished colorectal surgeon, Dr. Efron is an expert in rectal cancer and procedures that spare patients from living with an ostomy bag that collects waste from the body. Previously, he served as a senior executive at Johns Hopkins Medicine, where he oversaw workforce development and the expansion of clinical operations that grew to care for more than 2.8 million patients annually.

What inspired you to join UT Southwestern?

As a surgeon, I was fascinated by the institution and watched its growth from afar. At many academic medical centers, the health system is separate from the university. Here, leadership and faculty think about how you can advance clinical activity across the system in a way that enhances research and education.

Over the last 15 years, UT Southwestern has experienced meteoric growth, and we need to start thinking about how and why that growth should continue. It’s not just about growth for growth’s sake. Growing our clinical enterprise helps facilitate discovery and education. It trains new scientists and physicians who will unlock new treatments and care for tomorrow’s generations.

What is driving such rapid growth?

North Texas is an incredible place. Every three minutes we add a new resident. It enriches the vibrant culture of this region and drives economic innovation. However, it also means that the need for health care in this region continues to grow.

UT Southwestern’s mission is to promote health for people and communities, and we want to be at the forefront of meeting growing demand in this region. Achieving this will require expanding our clinical operations, ensuring we have the health care professionals and facilities to take care of those who live here.

Some of this can be done through public partnerships, like what is happening with construction of the Texas Behavioral Health Center at UT Southwestern. Philanthropic investment is also critical, and the incredible thing is that regardless of the size of the gift, there is a multiplier effect that can’t be underestimated. When people see the difference their support makes for people in their community, the impact is apparent.

Your job encompasses a huge enterprise, how do you stay focused?

My late father was a surgeon, and he had a saying that was very relevant for today’s world, where you have a million distractions. When I was worried and would call him, he would listen and then eventually say, “Do today’s work well, and tomorrow will take care of itself.”

Obviously, we must think about the future, but in today’s world, where everyone is on their phones constantly and you have a million distractions, that’s good advice.

In my own practice, focusing on the moment with the patient – whether in the operating room or visiting with them in the clinic or hospital – allows you to do today’s work well, and the patient is almost always fine tomorrow.