John M. Zerwas

John McCall Zerwas Sr. (born March 24, 1955), is a physician from Richmond, Texas, who has served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs from 2019 to 2025. He also served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019.

On June 1st, 2025, Zerwas was appointed interim Chancellor of the University of Texas System, replacing James Milliken. On August 20th, 2025, Zerwas was officially named chancellor of the University of Texas System.

Personal life Zerwas and his late wife, Cindy Hughes, graduated in 1973 from Bellaire High School and married in 1978. After graduating from the University of Houston, Zerwas earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in 1980 and started a full-time practice in 1985.

Zerwas helped form the First Colony Church of Christ, and was one of its first deacons where his duties included forming the children's education and children's worship programs. He worked with the Boy Scouts of America to establish a troop in the Pecan Grove area, serving as cub master and den leader for several years. He also worked with the boys during the summer camp programs. He has participated in medical missions to Guatemala with the group Faith in Practice where he provided anesthesiology for charity surgeries.

John and his wife Sylvia Haist married in December 2015 and reside in Richmond; they together have six children and ten grandchildren.

Background Zerwas practices anesthesiology with US Anesthesia Partners (USAP), a group he co-founded and in which he remains active in the operations of the partnership. He founded his previous practice, Greater Houston Anesthesiology (GHA), in 1985, and served as president of that clinical practice from 1996 to 2000.