The University announced Christian Larsen, Joseph Brown Whitehead professor and chair of the department of surgery at the Emory School of Medicine as the next medical school dean, effective Jan. 15.
Larsen also serves as the director of surgical services for Emory Healthcare and executive director of the Emory Transplant Center. He is also an internationally recognized leader in kidney and pancreas transplantation, according to his biography on the Emory website. In addition to serving as dean, Larsen will serve as vice president for health center integration for the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center and as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Emory Clinic.
In addition, Larsen played a key role in discovering a new class of immunosuppressive drugs for transplants, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved in June 2011. The National Institutes for Health (NIH) has provided grants to Larsen during the past 16 years.
A committee led by James Curran, dean of the Rollins School of Public Health, conducted a search for the new medical school dean.
Larsen will replace Thomas Lawley, who announced his plans for retirement last fall after serving as dean for 16 years. He will remain a faculty member at the School of Medicine, according to a Nov. 15 University press release.
S. Wright Caughman, the executive vice president for health affairs, wrote in a Nov. 15 University-wide email that Larsen has been "recognized for his leadership in developing innovative models for multidisciplinary patient care." He will work closely with Emory Healthcare's President and CEO John Fox to strengthen the School of Medicine's clinical and academic missions, Caughman wrote.
"Over 22 years as an Emory faculty member, he has demonstrated his skills as an outstanding surgeon, scientist, teacher and colleague, and most important, as a respected leader with the integrity and vision to build innovative new models of integrated patient care," Caughman said in a Nov. 15 University press release. "He has excelled at moving medicine and care delivery forward, not only at Emory, but on a national level."
Larsen was not immediately available for comment Thursday.
University President James W. Wagner expressed excitement about Larsen's appointment.
"Dr. Larsen is widely recognized for his scholarly accomplishments, his skills as an innovative surgeon and for his role as a devoted member of the Emory community," Wagner said in a press release. "He will bring his inspired brand of leadership to the School of Medicine and will build upon the rich legacy of this vital institution."
Larsen also received a bachelor of arts in chemistry from Emory College and then earned a medical degree from the University's School of Medicine in 1984.
– By Jordan Friedman
