University of Utah Health has appointed Christopher M. Hull, MD, interim chair for the Department of Dermatology in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, effective May 1, 2026. He succeeds Kristina Callis Duffin, MD, MS, who now serves as dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.
Hull will provide strategic and operational leadership for the department across its clinical, research, and education missions. He will work closely with faculty, staff, and health system leaders to advance high-quality patient care, support innovation in dermatologic research, and ensure the continued success of the department’s nationally recognized training programs.
As a professor of dermatology and an adjunct professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Hull has been a University of Utah Health faculty member for more than two decades. He is a longstanding member of the Department of Dermatology’s executive committee, contributing to system-level initiatives through service on the University of Utah Medical Group Board and institutional review board. He has served in various leadership roles in the department, including residency program director, director of clinical operations, and, most recently, as vice chair.
“Dr. Hull is a respected clinician, educator, and leader who brings deep institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to our missions,” said Bob Carter, MD, PhD, executive vice president for health sciences and CEO of University of Utah Health. “His experience across clinical operations, education, and research positions him well to guide the department during this transition and continue advancing excellence in dermatologic care.”
As a board-certified dermatologist, Hull’s clinical and research work focuses on complex medical dermatology, including autoimmune and infectious skin diseases. He led numerous clinical studies and served as principal investigator on multiple research initiatives supported by national foundations and industry partners. Hull is also a dedicated educator and mentor, with extensive experience teaching medical students, residents, and fellows. He previously directed the department’s dermatology residency program and has been recognized for excellence in teaching, including receiving the Department of Dermatology Teacher of the Year Award.
“I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Callis Duffin for her outstanding leadership as chair, and for the strong, collaborative foundation she created,” said Dr. Carter. “She leaves the department in excellent hands as she steps into her role as dean.”
During her nearly six years as chair, Callis Duffin led the department through remarkable growth and innovation. Under her leadership, the department launched new fellowship programs—in Mohs surgery, pediatric dermatology, and allergy/immunology—with a bold goal to become one of the top 10 dermatology training programs in the country. She advanced digital innovation through the development of a Center for Cutaneous Imaging and Digital Dermatopathology and strengthened the department’s administrative and financial infrastructure.
“It has been a privilege to serve as chair of the Department of Dermatology, which has been my academic home for more than two decades,” Callis Duffin said. “I’m incredibly proud of what this team has built together. Chris is a brilliant and dedicated clinician, educator, and researcher who has been a vital partner in our department’s momentum. I’m deeply grateful for his leadership and confident the department is in very good hands.”