Chairs reappointed for two Schulich departments

Dr. Karen Campbell has been renewed in her role as Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. Dr. Campbell's second term commenced January 2009 and will continue to June 2015.

Dr. Campbell is a well-known researcher in the field of perinatal epidemiology, with an active CIHR- funded research program studying prenatal causes, and postnatal consequences, of preterm and low birth weight gestation. Through her career she has published in both biostatistical and epidemiologic journals, and has been very active in graduate student education. In addition to her valued contributions to the research environment in Schulich, Dr. Campbell also holds appointments as Scientist at the Children's Health Research Institute and Affiliated Scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute.

Dr. Campbell has demonstrated energetic and visionary leadership in her first term as Chair, as well as a strong commitment to Western's academic mission through service on major committees at both the Faculty and University level.

Dr. Miguel Valvano has also been reappointed to the role of Chair in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, as of January 1, 2009.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dr. Valvano received his degree as a Medical Doctor for the School of Medicine in the University of Buenos Aires, in 1976. In 1988, he joined the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Western as an Assistant Professor and received promotion to full Professor in 1998.

In 2002, Dr. Valvano was awarded a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Infectious Diseases and Microbial Pathogenesis acknowledging him as a world leader in the field of Microbiology. He was also the recipient of the 2008 CSM/Roche Award from the Canadian Society of Microbiologists in recognition of his life career contributions to advance microbiology research in Canada. In addition to excelling in his research Dr. Valvano was appointed as Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology for his first term in 2004, and was further rewarded for his efforts in 2006 by receiving the Dean's Award of Excellence for his outstanding contributions to the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

Dr. Valvano will be taking a one-year study leave from January - December 2009, six months of which will be spent at the Centre des Recherches sur le macromolecules veatels, Universite Joseph Fournier de Grenoble in Grenoble, France. In his absence, Dr. David Heinrichs has taken up the role as Acting Chair for the Department of Microbiology & Immunology.