Ross University School of Medicine Welcomes New Dean

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02/17/2026 - 09:00 AM

Dr. Cheryl Holmes will lead the institution from its Barbados campus

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Covista (NYSE: ATGE), America’s largest healthcare educator, today announced Cheryl Holmes, M.D., a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada with a master's degree in health professions education, as the next dean of Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) effective March 16.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Holmes, and confident that her impressive experience spanning clinical practice, research and academic leadership will be invaluable to our students, faculty and staff,” said Scott Liles, president of medical and veterinary for Covista. “Covista has a key role to play in addressing the healthcare workforce crisis, and strong, effective leadership at Ross University School of Medicine is critical to continuing our momentum.”

Holmes brings more than 30 years of clinical experience in family medicine and critical care, together with an established record of achievement in education, research and academic leadership. In her most recent role as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education at the University of British Columbia, she partnered locally and nationally to broaden access to medical education, strengthen learning environments and secure accreditation for the M.D. program.

“Ross’s long-standing commitment to high-quality education, preparing physicians and healthcare leaders, offers an inspiring foundation for decades to come,” said Holmes. “I’m excited to join such a passionate community. By working together, we can build on this success — deepening our partnerships and preparing future physicians to lead with empathy, excellence and global awareness.”

RUSM achieved a 96 percent first-time residency attainment rate for 2024-2025 graduates.¹With its three annual start dates, RUSM graduates more M.D.s than any other U.S. medical school. In 2025, RUSM graduates filled critical roles across the healthcare system, matching into a broader range of residency specialties than graduates of any of the top Caribbean medical schools.² Holmes’ appointment will strengthen institutional consistency, advancing Covista’s commitment to addressing the critical healthcare workforce shortage at scale.

Holmes will reside in Barbados, further cementing the dean position as an integrated part of the RUSM and Barbadian communities. She will succeed interim dean Alejandro Carrasco, who will remain at Covista in a new role as vice president of operations and performance after the transition.

¹First-time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2025-26 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2024-25 who were active applicants in the 2025 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.

²Comparative Caribbean medical schools include Ross University School of Medicine, American University of the Caribbean, St. George's University, and Saba School of Medicine. Based on information available on the schools' websites as of June 17 2025.

About Ross University School of Medicine

Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM), a Covista institution, expands access and opportunity to students on the path to becoming skilled physicians determined to make an impact in global communities. RUSM has graduated more than 16,000 alumni who practice in the U.S. and Canada. Located in Barbados, RUSM is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). Visit medical.rossu.edu for more information, and follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Covista

Covista is America's largest healthcare educator, serving more than 97,000 students and supported by a community of 385,000 alumni across five accredited institutions. Through personalized, tech-enabled education powered by 10,000 faculty and colleagues, Covista expands access to healthcare careers and addresses the U.S. healthcare workforce shortage at scale. Covista is the parent company of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and Walden University. For more information, visit covista.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.