Lahoti named vice dean, Admissions and Student Affairs
Dean of Education LaTanya Love, MD, announced the appointment of Sheela Lahoti, MD, as vice dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at McGovern Medical School, effective Aug. 1, 2025, after successfully serving in the interim capacity.
“I am confident Dr. Lahoti will elevate our Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, creating even stronger pathways for student success,” Love said.
With over 20 years of dedicated service to the institution, Lahoti brings extensive experience in medical education administration. In 2005, she was named assistant dean for Student Affairs and most recently held the position of senior associate dean for Admissions and Student Affairs before her interim appointment.
Lahoti succeeds Margaret McNeese, MD, who has been appointed vice president of Clinical Human Resources for UTHealth Houston.
“My vision for the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs includes fostering a nurturing environment that best enhances student learning combined with professional and personal development thereby enabling our amazing students to become physician leaders positively impacting their patients and community,” Lahoti said.
She emphasized the need for collaboration and continuous improvement. “As an office we continually review and incorporate student feedback and use a data-informed process to navigate the dynamic landscape of medical education,” Lahoti explained. “I am truly grateful for this opportunity to continue to work closely with my colleagues in OASA and in the Office of Educational Programs to further our efforts to help our students grow and succeed.”
Lahoti also serves as a professor of pediatrics in the Division of Child Safety and Integrated Care. She joined McGovern Medical School in 1998 as an assistant professor of pediatrics.
She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed a residency in pediatrics from the University of Chicago, where she also trained in pediatric critical care.
She serves on the District Review Committee of the Texas Medical Board and has hospital appointments at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital.
Her professional achievements have earned recognition through fellowship in the American Academy of Pediatrics and membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, reflecting her dedication to excellence in medical education and practice.
“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Margaret McNeese for her longstanding dedication and outstanding contributions to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs,” Love said. “Her leadership has built and defined the office, shaped generations of students, and created a strong foundation on which we will continue to grow.”