Leadership changes in AHS
Fall semester 2023 is a time of transition in AHS, with leadership changes in three departments and the college research office.
Philip Clifford, who joined AHS in 2013 as the college’s first associate dean for research, stepped down to continue his work as KN professor and mentor. Kharma Foucher, KN associate professor, is the new interim associate dean effective Oct. 1.
Clifford was also director of mentoring and professional development in the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. He will remain faculty adviser for the Your Future in Science program, continue his work with young researchers in the Integrative Physiology Laboratory, and promote national initiatives on mentoring and career development for PhD scientists.
Clifford was professor and associate dean at Medical College of Wisconsin for 28 years before coming to UIC.
Foucher, a KN faculty member since 2013, earned an MD and PhD in bioengineering from UIC. Director of the education and professional development core in the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, she is an experienced teacher and mentor for undergraduate students all the way to junior faculty. Her research focuses on osteoarthritis-related disability.
The Office of Research supports AHS researchers in identifying funding opportunities and completing proposal developments, approvals and IRB applications. Other services include statistical consultation and poster printing.
Susan Magasi ’02 MS OT, ’06 PhD DS was named OT professor and head. Magasi, a UIC faculty member since 2013, was previously associate professor and associate department head. She has received both campus and college honors as Researcher of the Year and was recently named a fellow of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. She received a 2023 Meritorious Service Award from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation.
In her research, Magasi is developing, testing and implementing mobile health (mHealth) apps for people with newly acquired disabilities. An earlier mHealth project focused on cancer survivors.
Shane Phillips, PT professor and associate department head, served as interim OT department head.
Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar was OT department head from 2006 until 2022, when she stepped down to return to the faculty, where she focuses on her research, teaching and service.
DISABILITY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Tamar Heller, DHD distinguished professor and department head since 2002, will step down as head Jan. 1.
She will continue as director of the Institute on Disability and Human Development, the federally chartered University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities for the state of Illinois. She will remain director of the Developmental Disabilities Family Clinic, which houses the Autism Clinic and Autism Program Training Center, Child and Family Development Center Early Intervention Program and Cognition Behavior and Mindfulness Clinic.
Heller’s research concerns policies and practices to support individuals with disabilities and their families across the life course. She is a founding member of the Sibling Leadership Network and the Bridging Aging and Disability International Network.
Carrie Sandahl, DHD professor and director of the Program on Disability Art, Culture and Humanities, will be interim head, with Sarah Parker Harris, DHD professor and director of graduate students, as interim associate head.
David Marquez, KN professor, was named interim head. Giamila Fantuzzi, KN professor and director of graduate studies, serves as interim associate head. Former KN head Kelley Tappenden is now dean of the College of Health at the University of Utah.