Beginning in 1982, Girod began his 15-year career in the United States Navy Reserve where he worked at the Naval Hospital Oakland as a surgeon and the Director of Otolaryngology. In 1997, Girod was discharged from the military honorably, ending his career as a Lieutenant Commander.[5] In 1994, Girod left California to become a surgeon at the KU Medical Center.[6] During his time at the KU Medical Center, Girod was a professor, department chair, senior associate dean, interim executive dean, and his most recent post of executive vice chancellor.[7] He's a member of the Republican Party.[8]
University of Kansas chancellor
On May 25, 2017, the Kansas Board of Regents announced Girod as the 18th chancellor of the University of Kansas.[9] During his time as chancellor, Girod has increased the university's enrollment,[10] established a partnership between Kansas Athletics, the University of Kansas Health System and Lawrence Memorial Health to create Kansas Team Health, a model that provides better care for student athletes and moved all healthcare professionals under the Kansas Health System's payroll.[11]
A year into being chancellor, Girod fired athletic director Sheahon Zenger due to a lack of progress.[12] Almost a month later, Girod hired Jeff Long as the new athletics director, tasking him to fix the football program.[13] Long fired David Beaty at the end of the 2018 football season, ending with a 6–42 record at Kansas.[14] Long then hired Les Miles to get the football program to become a championship program, however, he was fired on March 9, 2021, after accusations from women while he was at LSU.[15] The next day, Girod fired Long as the athletics director.[16]
In April 2021, Girod hired Travis Goff as the new athletics director, whose first task was to hire a new football coach.[17] Almost a month later, Goff named Lance Leipold as the next football coach.[18] Leipold, in just his second season, led the Jayhawks to a 5–0 start for the first time since 2008 and also coached the team to be bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008.[19]
Personal life
Girod is married to Susan Pirtle and they have three children. Girod and his wife live in Lawrence, Kansas.[20]
