Inland Empire Magazine, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has named UC Riverside’s Dr. Deborah Deas as one of “50 Players Who Shaped the Region.” Deas, vice chancellor for health sciences and the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean of the School of Medicine, is listed under the education category in the April issue of the magazine.
“It is an honor and privilege to be recognized for making an impact in the Inland Empire,” Deas said. “I am happy to share this recognition with UCR School of Medicine’s leaders, faculty, and staff because only through their contributions and efforts, we can work collaboratively to make a difference.”
Deas grew up in rural South Carolina and pursued medicine with a focus on psychiatry. Before joining UCR, she held leadership roles at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she served as vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine. Her clinical and research work has centered on addiction psychiatry, particularly substance use disorders among adolescents, as well as the broader social and structural factors that influence mental health.
At UCR, she has been a prominent advocate for expanding medical education and addressing physician shortages in Inland Southern California. Her leadership emphasizes training diverse cohorts of physicians, improving access to care in underserved communities, and integrating behavioral health into primary care. Throughout her career, she has combined clinical expertise with institutional leadership to advance health equity, workforce diversity, and community-focused medical education.
Inland Empire Magazine is a regional lifestyle publication covering Riverside and San Bernardino counties, with content focused on local dining, arts, business, community events, and notable residents.