New Director aims to enhance opportunities for students
A change in leadership is coming to three health-professions programs.
Margaret Morris, PhD, Director of EVMS’ two Biomedical Sciences programs and the Biotechnology program, has accepted a prestigious position as Scientific Review Officer with the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, Maryland.
“I am grateful for her careful stewardship of these three programs over the years,” says Don Combs, PhD, Vice President of EVMS and Dean of the School of Health Professions. “I know that she will shine in her new position.”
Anca Dobrian, PhD, Professor of Physiological Sciences (pictured above,) has been named Program Director for all three programs.
Dr. Dobrian joined EVMS in 2000. She has an extensive research background in vascular and lipid biology and the pre-clinical modeling of metabolic diseases, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.
In addition, she has served as a principal investigator on 15 intramural and extramural grants from the NIH, Department of Defense, American Heart Association and other organizations, as well as a co-PI on seven additional grants. She is a Fellow of the American Heart Association and serves on grant review panels for that organization and the National Kidney Foundation.
Dr. Dobrian also has strong teaching and education credentials. “She led efforts for the new Biomedical Sciences curriculum and contributed to the design of the new CareForward medical curriculum,” Dr. Combs says. “Her leadership helped us conceptualize and implement seven core and advanced graduate-level courses.”
She also serves as the EVMS representative on the AAMC Council for Faculty and Academic Societies.
In her new role, Dr. Dobrian is planning to work with colleagues, faculty and students to increase the versatility and interdisciplinary aspect of the curriculum and to enhance the visibility of the program via networking within the AAMC. The goal is to produce doctoral and master’s graduates equipped with knowledge and skills that will make them equally attractive to academic and industry employers.