WICHITA — The dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita is resigning for a position in Kentucky, KU officials announced today.

Dr. David Wilson, who has served as dean since 2009, accepted the position of special assistant to the dean for educational development at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Dr. Garold Minns, KU Med associate dean for academic and student affairs, will take over as dean of the Wichita campus on Aug. 1 and will work with Wilson through September, university officials said.

As dean, Wilson oversaw the expansion of the Wichita campus to a full, four-year medical school program in July 2011. The expansion was part of efforts by KU and the state to retain more medical school graduates in Kansas, particularly in rural and other underserved areas.

“The KU School of Medicine-Wichita has a tremendous track record training doctors who choose to stay and practice medicine in Kansas. As I have traveled throughout the state, it has been extremely gratifying to hear from those whose lives are helped by the work we do and the physicians we have educated,” Wilson said. “I am truly honored to have been a part of this crucial mission and grateful to the Wichita community and our legislators for their tremendous support.”

Minns joined the faculty of KU Med in Wichita in 1980. He is a Kansas native who graduated from the school and completed his residency and fellowship training on the Wichita campus. Minns served as chair of the Department of Internal Medicine from 1994 to 2003 and has received numerous awards during his career at KU, including the 2010 Rainbow Award, the W.T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence Award and the Thor Jager Award.