Vol. 62 | September 2026 – 8 minute read

Over 460 faculty members and staff serve on 20 standing committees under the Provost's Office and the Medical School. This year’s membership renewal of the committees introduced a more intentional and transparent process for identifying anticipated FY27 vacancies and broadening faculty participation.

Under the leadership of Alyssa Hasty, Ph.D., Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Career Development, committee chairs evaluated the composition of their groups and areas of need. Seven committees had vacancies. 

The Office of the Provost invited all faculty to review the committee descriptions and self-nominate through their Department Chairs or Center Directors. Out of 86 nominations representing 27 departments and centers, approximately 30 faculty members were selected based on interests, complementary perspectives, and continuity.

The process brings new voices and fresh viewpoints to the work that supports our educational and research missions. It also gives faculty the opportunity to serve side by side with colleagues outside their academic department or center, gaining insight and expanding their network.  

Inaugural Director of the Office of Educational Excellence

Aditee Ambardekar, M.D., M.S.Ed., Professor of Anesthesiology & Pain Management, has been named inaugural Director of the Office of Educational Excellence.

The new office will provide centralized support for faculty across our four schools in areas of curriculum innovation, learner assessment, and instructional design, while leveraging technologies and learning analytics to enhance teaching. It will also collaborate with the Office of Faculty Development to introduce coordinated faculty enrichment pathways. 

Over the last 15 years, Dr. Ambardekar has held progressive leadership roles in health professions education. She has served as Program Director for the Anesthesiology Residency and as Assistant Designated Institutional Official at UTSW. Nationally, she chaired the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Anesthesiology Review Committee.

An award-winning educator, Dr. Ambardekar has taught faculty development programs and mentored educators whose work has led to grants, publications, and academic promotion. She brings the expertise and strategic vision required to launch the Office of Educational Excellence and strengthen our academic mission. Read more.

Thank you, Drs. Xie and Jacobe for your service

Yang Xie, Ph.D., Professor and interim Chair of Health Data Science and Biostatistics in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health has been named the inaugural director of WashU Medicine’s newly established Center for AI-Driven Precision Medicine, a BJC Investigator, and the inaugural David H. Perlmutter and Barbara A. Cohlan Distinguished Professor in Genetics, effective today. 

Over her 20-year career at UTSW, Dr. Xie developed research programs in data sciences, digital pathology, and precision oncology. In 2022, she was appointed UTSW’s first Associate Dean for Data Sciences. In that role, she supported the expansion of quantitative and data science capacities and the formation and successful growth of the Biostatistics and Data Science Core (BDSC).

Dr. Xie’s efforts and leadership contributed to making data science a key strength of our institution’s research endeavors. We are grateful for her dedication and wish her well in this new chapter.

Heidi Jacobe, M.D., Professor of Dermatology and Epidemiology, has been named Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Duke University, effective Dec. 1.

As Associate Dean of Clinical Research Development and Director of the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation program, Dr. Jacobe has led institutional initiatives that advanced the development of clinician‑scientists and the clinical research workforce. She also holds leadership roles within our Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program, where she serves as Director of the Clinical and Translational Science Workforce Development Core and as co‑Director and MPI of the NIH KL2 Clinical Scholars Program.

We are grateful to Dr. Jacobe for her contributions and dedication to advancing our patient care, education, and research, and we wish her all the best in her new leadership role. 

As announced last month, James Malter, M.D., will step down from his position as Chair of the Department of Pathology after a successor is identified. Martin Pomper, M.D., Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Radiology, will serve as Chair of the committee that will conduct a national search for the next Chair of Pathology. Other members of the committee are:

• James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine
• Suzanne Conzen, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine
• Craig Glazer, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of University Hospitals
• David Greenberg, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Microbiology
• Benjamin Levi, M.D., Professor and Director of the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research
• Elan Louis, M.D., M.S., Chair and Professor of Neurology
• Toral Patel, M.D., Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Neurology, and Radiation Oncology
• Julie Pfeiffer, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Microbiology
• Travis Vandergriff, M.D., Professor of Dermatology and Pathology
• Adam Yopp, M.D., Professor of Surgery
• Eric Peterson, M.D., M.P.H., Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research – ex officio

The Educator Development at UTSW (EDU) course has returned with new content designed to support faculty growth across all levels. Ten video modules cover a broad range of topics, including using AI tools to improve feedback, teaching in busy or high-pressure clinical environments, and publishing medical education research.

The entire EDU course takes under 2.5 hours to complete. Access it on Taleo Learn by searching for “EDU 2026.”

Those who finish the series will receive a certificate of completion and recognition at the annual Southwestern Academy of Teachers symposium.

Effective Sept. 15, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is eliminating the “duration of status” (D/S) policy for F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants and replacing it with fixed admission periods.

Historically, D/S allowed international students, scholars, and physician trainees to remain lawfully in the United States without a fixed departure date while completing their academic program, training, or degree. Under the new rule, admissions for F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants will generally be limited to a maximum of four years unless the individual submits a timely extension of stay application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

For individuals already in the U.S. on F-1 or J-1 visas and admitted under the prior D/S framework, DHS will allow them to remain in the United States without applying for an extension of stay request up to the end date listed on their Form I-20 or Form DS 2019, not to exceed Nov. 14, 2030. 

The Office of International Affairs is actively reviewing the final rule and related government guidance and

communicating directly with affected students, scholars, departments, and sponsoring units. 

Victor López, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Vincent Tagliabracci, Ph.D., in the Department of Molecular Biology, is the 2026 recipient of the Brown-Goldstein Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Research.

The highest recognition the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences bestows on postdoctoral trainees, the award honors the contributions of Nobel Laureates Michael S. Brown, M.D., and Joseph L. Goldstein, M.D., to the training of the next generation of scientists.

A Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Hanna H. Gray Fellow since 2022, Dr. López uses bioinformatic tools to discover orphan enzymes for which activities are known but no protein has been identified. He has uncovered the two missing enzymes that salvage or recycle polyisporenol lipids and is now investigating this pathway and potential role in statin-induced myophathy, in collaboration with Russell DeBose-Boyd, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Genetics.

Dr. López will present his research during a University Lecture on Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. in NG3.112.  

Since 2016, UT Southwestern has participated in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey. With that data, it has established historical benchmarks that help Faculty Affairs and Career Development understand how the faculty experience is evolving over time and how UTSW compares with peer institutions.

Previous survey findings have helped identify areas for action and, in some cases, reinforced existing priorities. These efforts include:

• Increasing professional development opportunities through programs such as the UTSW Coach Certificate Program, CIMER Mentor Training, LEVEL Up, and more.
• Establishing the Research Track Faculty Development program and Research Track Faculty Excellence Awards.
• Expanding enterprise access to AI tools and ambient AI capabilities in UTSW Epic.

We encourage you to participate in the survey when you receive the link next month.

The 2026 State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) – the only authorized workplace giving campaign for state agency and higher education employees in Texas – is underway.

This initiative empowers you to support causes close to your heart – from local groups to global humanitarian missions. Every participating organization is carefully vetted, ensuring your donation will create real and lasting impact.

Visit the SECC website to learn more about how your contribution can help improve lives, find a cause that matters to you, decide the most convenient way to donate, and make plans to attend a campus event.

Last Call: Complimentary Upgrade to CE Broker Account

Effective today, the Texas Medical Board (TMB) will use CE Broker to track continuing education compliance prior to license renewal. Eligible TMB-licensed clinicians received a unique code to upgrade to the professional tier. Redemption is time sensitive.

• Book an appointment with the CE Office for 1:1 support.

President’s Lecture Series

James Collins, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology, presents “You Complete Me: The Secret Lives of Schistosomes.”

• Sept. 17. Register to attend.

Demystifying CPRIT Grants

This session will explore the different types of CPRIT funding opportunities, strategies for developing competitive applications, reviewer perspectives, and practical tips for navigating the submission process.

• Sept. 17. Register to attend.

Health Disparities Research Lecture Series

Kia Parsi, M.D., Executive Director of Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute, presents “Reducing Disparities in Rural Communities: Finding the Right Financial Model for Sustainability.”

• Sept. 23. Register to attend.

Implementation Science Launchpad: From Evidence to Practice Speaker Series

Gain foundational knowledge in implementation science and learn how to successfully apply evidence-based and evidence-informed practices into healthcare, public health, and policy settings.

• Sept. 23. Register to attend.

Successfully Earning a K Award (SEAK) Workshop*

Designed to increase the likelihood of funding as you write or resubmit your K award application, this workshop focuses on each of the steps of the grant process. Early-career faculty working on a K01, K08, or K23 submission are encouraged to apply.

• Apply by Oct. 2.

Faculty Women’s Club Welcome Luncheon

The Faculty Women’s Club fosters community through interest groups, service projects, and educational and social events for its members. Learn more about the group and membership eligibility during the fall welcome luncheon. The event will also feature a presentation about the new Texas Behavioral Health Center by Kala Bailey, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurological Surgery. 

• Oct. 6. Register to attend. 

*Sponsored by the UT Southwestern Clinical and Translational Science Award Program