The research enterprise of the Keck School of Medicine is growing in size and complexity. To help lead our continued growth going forward, Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA, approved the creation of two new associate dean positions, one focused on clinical research and the other focused on basic and translational research. I am pleased to introduce to you to the two individuals who have been recruited to the Keck School to assume these new leadership positions. Both individuals are accomplished researchers and research leaders. I look forward to working with them to continue the upward trajectory of research in the Keck School.
April Armstrong, MD, MPH
Associate Dean for Clinical Research
Dr. Armstrong came to the Keck School in June as associate professor in the Department of Dermatology, where she is vice chair for clinical research, director of the psoriasis program, and director of clinical trials and outcomes research. She brings a wealth of experience in clinical trials and outcomes research. She will apply that experience to two closely related leadership roles in clinical research — associate dean for clinical research in the Keck School and director of clinical research in the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
As associate dean for clinical research, Dr. Armstrong will work to define the vision, goals and measures of success for clinical research within the Keck School. She will help to guide the development of an efficient and effective infrastructure that supports and promotes clinical research and integrates research with clinical care. She will play an important role in expanding the Keck School’s clinical research collaborations with other schools at USC and other academic and clinical institutions in Los Angeles and, where relevant, more broadly. She will also participate in the development and implementation of activities to enhance training and career development in clinical research within the Keck School and with other schools at USC. These activities will dovetail closely with her role as director of clinical research for the SC CTSI, where she will lead the development and operations of a new Clinical Research Support Office that will promote and support for investigator-initiated clinical trials.
Sarah Hamm-Alvarez, PhD
Associate Dean for Basic and Translational Research
Dr. Hamm-Alvarez joined the Keck School in July as professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, where serves as vice chair for basic research. In September, she will assume a new role for the Keck School as associate dean for basic and translational research. Her primary responsibility in this position will be to be to expand the scope and impact of basic and translational research conducted by faculty members and trainees within the Keck School. She will work with other research leaders in the Keck School and with basic, translational and clinical scientists to forge a highly effective, efficient operational framework that will foster fundamental discovery science and its translation to applications that improve human health. She will also work externally to establish academic, foundation and private-sector partnerships that will enhance the Keck School’s basic and translational research programs.