Christoph U. Lehmann, M.D., has been appointed inaugural Associate Dean of Clinical Informatics. He holds the Willis C. Maddrey, M.D. Distinguished Professorship in Clinical Science. 

Dr. Lehmann received his medical degree from the Westfalische Wilhelms University in Germany. Following completion of fellowships in neonatology and clinical informatics at Johns Hopkins University, he joined the faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins in 2000 and was recruited to Vanderbilt University in 2012. 

He joined UT Southwestern in 2019 to direct the Clinical Informatics Center. Under his leadership, the Master of Science in Health Informatics was developed and launched. He is also launching a fellowship program in clinical informatics this July. Under Dr. Lehmann’s leadership, the Clinical Informatics Center quickly developed a reputation for innovative research in clinical informatics and related domains.

In his new role, Dr. Lehmann supports investigators to leverage the electronic health record and other data sources for research, and to help propel UT Southwestern to become a national model for data democratization and innovative interventions in the electronic health record. 

Surgical Partners in Research (SPAR), a single collaborative clinical research unit based in the Department of Surgery, is designed to standardize research management, improve compliance, and optimize efficiency across multiple departments and the institution. In addition to Surgery, SPAR serves the Departments of Emergency Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Biomedical Engineering, as well as the Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. 

Over the past six months, SPAR has nearly doubled its staff by recruiting personnel from major clinical and translational research institutions across the nation. Over the past year, it has activated approximately four times the number of research studies than any previous year.  

SPAR offers the full spectrum of clinical research – clinical trial management, retrospective chart review, and complex investigational drug and device trials – through the following key operational teams: 



• Study coordination   
• Study startup/project management   
• Regulatory assistance 
• Grants and contracts  
• Research finance  
• Statistics  
• Writing/editing  

Moving forward, SPAR plans to expand collaborations with other departments in alignment with institutional research leadership. 

Clinical and Translational Research Forum

This interactive forum provides an opportunity for trainees to meet with established investigators in clinical and translational research to share their ideas and experiences.

• Occurs on Thursdays at noon. Join via Zoom; meeting ID 918 5345 2714, passcode 361531. 

Clinical Informatics Research Colloquium

This event brings together scientists in clinical informatics, research informatics, and other data and informatics to exchange ideas, collaborate, and develop grants, papers, and projects. This month's colloquium will feature a presentation titled "Putting the 'HER' in 'EHR:' Detecting Women at Risk of Developing Postpartum Depression using Artificial Intelligence.”

• March 29, from 1-2:30 p.m. Contact Katherine Flannery to register for the virtual event.

Fundamentals of Team Science

The CTSA Program will host a two-part webinar to introduce the fundamentals of Team Science. After the webinars, you will be able to incorporate the concepts into the success of your research team and grant proposals.

Part 1: Opportunities and Challenges of Interdisciplinary Research and Team Science

• March 22, 4-5 p.m. Register to attend. 

Part 2: Launching, Managing, and Leading Breakthrough Science Teams

• April 6, 1-4 p.m. The prerequisite is participating in Part 1. Register to attend.

For more information, contact the CTSA Program. 

Community Engagement Grand Rounds

Sandi Pruitt, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor of Population and Data Sciences, will present: "Tackling Food Injustice in North Texas: Research Outcomes and Program Impact."

• March 29, from noon to 1 p.m. Register to attend.

Master of Science in Clinical Science

Applications are open for UTSW’s Master of Science in Clinical Science and related certificate programs. 

• Apply by March 31 for enrollment in August.