Dr. Brooks Jackson, dean of the University of Minnesota medical school and vice president for health sciences, will leave his post after three years for a similar position in Iowa.

Jackson, 64, has taken a job at the University of Iowa, where he will be vice president for medical affairs and dean of the university's medical school. His position also includes oversight of University of Iowa Health Care, which includes hospitals, clinics and faculty physicians.

An internationally known AIDS researcher, Jackson was recruited to the U from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to help improve the national standing of the medical school, which trains most of the state's physicians and other health care professionals.

"This position is a critical role for the University of Minnesota, and the change in leadership comes at a critical time in our discussions with current and potential clinical partners," U President Eric Kaler said in a statement to medical school staff. Kaler said he's working with the Board of Regents and the medical school to plan a transition and will provide an update later this week.

During Jackson's tenure, the U negotiated an agreement to merge its physician faculty practice with Fairview Health Services in an attempt to create an integrated academic health system. The deal would have rebranded all of the Fairview facilities with the M Health name, the moniker used by the U's physician group.

But the two organizations were unable to come to terms and the deal was canceled last year.

Fairview owns the University of Minnesota Medical Center and the two groups still work together under a number of affiliation agreements.

U.S. News & World Report ranked the U's medical school 44th in the country for research in 2017, down from 35th place a year ago.

Glenn Howatt • 612-673-7192