Johan Bester, an internationally recognized academic leader in medical education and curricular development, has been named the associate dean for curriculum at the University of Georgia School of Medicine. His appointment began on Jan. 1, 2026.

Bester joins the School of Medicine after serving as the associate dean for pre-clerkship curriculum, professor of family and community medicine and professor of health care ethics at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine for three years. Prior to his role at Saint Louis University, Bester held several leadership positions at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas including assistant dean for biomedical sciences education, director of bioethics and associate professor of medical education. His career is also distinguished by multiple years of clinical practice in both family medicine and emergency medicine across various international settings such as the United States, South Africa, United Kingdom and Canada.

Bester has consistently been featured as a speaker and presenter at international forums and professional conferences, covering topics ranging from medical ethics to active learning. He has also authored or co-authored more than 40 articles and abstracts in peer-reviewed publications and written and edited several books.

As the inaugural associate dean for curriculum at the School of Medicine, Bester will play a vital role in shaping the medical school’s curriculum, providing strategic oversight and driving innovation in the design, implementation and continuous improvement of the curriculum. This responsibility is familiar to Bester — while at Saint Louis University, he initiated and led a curricular change that emphasized active learning and evidence-based educational approaches.

“As we set out to create a world-class learning environment for our future students, I look forward to Dr. Bester’s leadership, in collaboration with our faculty, in crafting a curriculum that trains excellent physicians,” said Shelley Nuss, founding dean of the School of Medicine. “His years of experience in medical education leadership and rich background in curriculum design and implementation will be an asset to our administration and will be essential for student success.”

Bester said he was intrigued by the new role at the School of Medicine because he wanted to make a difference.

“There is an opportunity here at UGA to build a medical school that will make an impact in Georgia and beyond,” Bester said. “Medical education is a public good, something that makes the world better, and I was drawn to this position at the School of Medicine because of the unique ways in which we can contribute to society and the world at large.”

Bester said the curriculum at the School of Medicine will be a rigorous design that enables students to solve complex health care situations and, above all, apply their skills in service to their patients.

“The biggest impact we make is through developing physicians who will go out and do good in the world,” Bester said. “We want to train physicians with the desire and aptitude to make the societies they serve better and to go and solve the health care problems we face in Georgia and in the United States. A strong curriculum is essential for this. We must help our students develop the ability and insight to be agents for good that will help people, relieve suffering and bring healing where there is brokenness.”

Bester earned his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (2002), Master of Philosophy (2009) and Ph.D. in applied ethics (2016), all from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.