Academic Enterprise Announcements


Dr. Roberto Garofalo and Dr. Heather Stevenson-Lerner on a teal background, teal text reading New AE Leadership Announcement

Garofalo, Stevenson-Lerner Appointed as New Co-Directors of MD-PhD Program at UTMB

A Message from the Interim Senior Vice President & Dean, John Sealy School of Medicine, and Chief Research Officer and the Senior Vice President & Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Roberto Garofalo and Dr. Heather Stevenson-Lerner as the new co-directors of the MD-PhD Program at UTMB. Their combined leadership marks an exciting new phase in the development of a program that plays a vital role in the life of our academic medical center.

The MD-PhD program embodies UTMB’s commitment to training the next generation of physician-scientists — leaders who are uniquely equipped to bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside. This dual-degree pathway cultivates individuals who not only provide outstanding clinical care but also advance the frontiers of biomedical science through innovative research. At a time when medical challenges are increasingly complex and interdisciplinary, MD-PhD graduates bring an essential perspective to patient care, discovery, and the translation of new knowledge into improved outcomes.

Dr. Garofalo is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, holding the Sealy & Smith Distinguished Chair in Pediatrics. He is an internationally renowned physician-scientist in the field of respiratory viral infections and serves as director of the UTMB Center for Lung Disease and Remodeling. In fall 2024, he was elected to lead the renewed Council of Vice Chairs and Vice Deans for Research. Dr. Garofalo brings a wealth of experience in translational infectious disease research, particularly in the field of pediatric respiratory infections, where his NIH-funded work has contributed significantly to our understanding of viral pathogenesis. He has a strong track record of mentoring physician-scientist trainees and junior investigators, fostering careers that bridge clinical care and research. His leadership will help expand the program’s research portfolio and strengthen its foundation in mechanistic and translational science.

Dr. Stevenson-Lerner is a Professor in the Department of Pathology, Division of Surgical Pathology, with clinical expertise in liver and transplantation pathology. She leads UTMB’s Liver Diseases Diagnostic Management Team, a multidisciplinary forum that brings together hepatologists, fellows, and residents to enhance diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making. A graduate of UTMB’s MD-PhD program, Dr. Stevenson-Lerner now directs an NIH-funded research laboratory focused on translational liver disease research. She has a longstanding commitment to training the next generation of physician-scientists and has mentored numerous medical students, residents, graduate students, and MD-PhD trainees. With her combined expertise in clinical diagnostics, medical education, and biomedical research, she brings a unique perspective to the integration of scientific discovery with patient care. Her leadership and dedication to academic excellence will be instrumental in fostering a structured and supportive environment for MD-PhD students.

We appreciate the expertise and perspective that Dr. Garofalo and Dr. Stevenson-Lerner bring as co-directors. Together, they bring complementary strengths that will elevate the MD-PhD Program — enhancing recruitment, expanding research opportunities, and providing robust mentorship to prepare our trainees for impactful careers at the intersection of medicine and science.

We are grateful to Dr. Michael Laposata, immediate past director, for his service and leadership of the program, and look forward to the MD-PhD Program’s continued growth and productivity as we train the next generation of physician-scientist leaders.

Sincerely yours,

Antonio Bianco, MD, PhD

Melinda Sheffield-Moore, PhD

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