Dr. Paul Klotman, a recognized leader in academic medicine, has been named president and chief executive officer of Baylor College of Medicine.

Klotman becomes the fifth president of the medical school. He currently serves as chair of medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

The search committee, which began its work early this year, included faculty members and board trustees. The advisory committee to the search committee included deans, and representatives of alumni, medical school students, graduate school students and residents.

Klotman will take the post September 1. He succeeds Dr. William T. Butler, who has been serving as interim president and CEO since December 2008. Butler, president of the college from 1979 to 1996, also serves as chancellor emeritus.