Interim Dean Announcement for Keck School of Medicine

Message to Faculty, Staff, and Students of the Keck School of Medicine of USC

October 6, 2017

On behalf of President Nikias, I am writing to inform you that Dr. Laura Mosqueda, chair of the Department of Family Medicine and associate dean of primary care, has agreed to serve as interim dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, while continuing to perform her other academic and administrative roles.

Dr. Mosqueda, who is a graduate of USC, was named chair of Family Medicine in 2014. A professor of family medicine and geriatrics, she is a widely respected authority on geriatric and family medicine, elder abuse, and care of the elderly and underserved. Dr. Mosqueda also is the director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, a federally-funded initiative, and she is the principal investigator for a major study that addresses prevention of abuse in vulnerable older adults. Her academic expertise includes medical education curricula design, development and implementation.

During this time of transition, Dr. Mosqueda will work closely with President Nikias and me to support you as we strengthen and improve the culture at the Keck School. We will continue the momentum, and we know everyone will work with Dr. Mosqueda as she advances the priorities of the school.  This includes the continued recruiting of excellent physicians and researchers, advancing the implementation of the strategic plan, and furthering our support for USC Keck’s world-class students.

In the coming weeks, we will provide more details on the full national search for a new dean of the Keck School. Please join me in thanking Dr. Mosqueda for taking on this important role to help create a stronger and even more vibrant academic medical enterprise.

We very much look forward to working with all of you to ensure the Keck School is a progressive, respectful, and compassionate environment in which to work, learn and study.

Cc:       C. L. Max Nikias
Academic Senate
Academic Deans
President’s Cabinet
Provost’s Cabinet