Laura Mosqueda (Photo/Ricardo Carrasco III)
The University of Southern California has appointed Laura Mosqueda, MD, as dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, effective May 1. Mosqueda, who was appointed the school’s interim dean in October 2017, is an accomplished physician, researcher and expert in geriatric medicine, family medicine, and elder abuse and neglect. She is the first woman to lead the Keck School of Medicine since it was established in 1885.
“Laura Mosqueda brings extraordinary leadership and an unwavering commitment to excellence to our Keck School of Medicine,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. “As the school’s interim dean, she fostered an environment that promotes the highest standards of quality. Her exceptional foresight, coupled with her decades of expertise, will surely elevate the meaningful work of our Keck School community as it continues to advance innovation in medical education, patient care and research.”
As dean, Mosqueda will advance the school’s educational mission and nurture an inclusive and diverse environment. She will also focus on expanding research capabilities on USC’s Health Sciences Campus near downtown Los Angeles and on recruiting transformative physicians and researchers.
“There is overwhelming support among faculty, staff and students for Laura Mosqueda’s work and leadership,” said USC Provost Michael Quick. “Dr. Mosqueda is the clear choice to lead the Keck School of Medicine of USC, as we have impact in the world now, and also lay the foundation for the next generation of world-class researchers and physicians.”
An advocate for the elderly, Mosqueda has testified in front of Congress and has been invited to the White House to discuss elder justice initiatives. She directs the National Center on Elder Abuse, a federally funded initiative that focuses on improving response to elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. She also co-founded the first Elder Abuse Forensics Center in the United States, which unites legal, medical, social services and law enforcement experts to evaluate and intervene in complicated cases of suspected elder abuse.
Prior to her appointment as interim dean, Mosqueda was associate dean of primary care at the school and chair of the Department of Family Medicine. The Keck School alumna joined the school’s faculty in 2014.
“Being a second-generation Keck School of Medicine of USC graduate, my connection to the school runs deep,” Mosqueda said. “You could even say that USC and the Keck School are in my DNA. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to serve such a talented community of students, healers, researchers, teachers and thinkers.”
Mosqueda has contributed numerous publications to peer-reviewed journals and edited four books about geriatric medicine. After earning her MD degree from the Keck School, she completed her residency and internship in family medicine at Glendale Adventist Medical Center and a fellowship in internal medicine at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center.
As dean, Mosqueda will oversee more than 4,150 full-time and voluntary faculty who direct the education of approximately 800 medical students and 1,000 students pursuing graduate and postgraduate degrees. The school trains more than 900 resident physicians in more than 50 specialty or subspecialty programs and is the largest educator of physicians practicing in Southern California.
Together, the school’s faculty and residents serve more than 1.5 million patients each year at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, as well as USC-affiliated hospitals, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center.
The Keck School of Medicine of USC is part of Keck Medicine of USC, USC’s medical enterprise, and is one of only two university-owned academic medical centers in the Los Angeles area.