A prominent neuroradiologist and nuclear medicine physician with a wealth of international experience has been named the new Dean of the University of Otago Medical School.
Professor Rathan Subramaniam
Professor Rathan Subramaniam is currently the Chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas, Texas. He will start at Otago in February next year, serving as Dean of the Otago Medical School – which encompasses each of the University's three main campuses – as well as heading the Dunedin Medical Campus.
Professor Subramaniam initially undertook his medical studies in Australia. After spending time as a house officer in Victoria, Australia, he and his family immigrated to New Zealand. He completed his senior house officer year at Auckland City Hospital, took on advanced training in Diagnostic Radiology at Waikato Hospital and a Master's degree in Clinical Education at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, via distance education. He completed his PhD at the University of Auckland.
He moved to the United States in 2006 to specialise in Nuclear Medicine and Neuroradiology at the Mayo Clinic. He was appointed as a faculty member at the Boston University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed a Masters in Public Health at the Harvard University School of Public Health before taking up his current roles at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in 2016.
As clinical chief he has responsibility for nuclear medicine services at the Clements University Hospital and the Parkland Hospital and Health System. He has a Scopus h-index of 30 and has been granted many significant awards and positions.
University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne says the appointment of such an experienced, high calibre and highly qualified person to the role is a significant gain for the University of Otago.
“The Otago Medical School is a vital part of this University and has achieved considerable success and reputation on the world stage.
“Continuing that legacy while also striving to improve upon it is a constant focus, and the appointment of Professor Subramaniam shows those goals are in very capable hands.”
The University of Otago Division of Health Sciences Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Brunton says the role of Dean, Otago Medical School, is one that is as demanding as it is prestigious.
“Welcoming a new Dean with the quality and background of Professor Subramaniam's is a coup for the Division. The Otago Medical School is large, complex and highly valued by the University and by New Zealand as a whole.
“We're excited Professor Subramaniam is joining us and we look forward to seeing the impact of his considerable talents.”
Professor Subramaniam says the shift to Dunedin is one both he and his family are excited by.
“It is a lifetime honour to be part of New Zealand's oldest and most research-intensive University, ranked among the world's top 1% of higher education institutions.
“I am deeply passionate about dedicating myself to the betterment of the people of New Zealand and improving New Zealand's health care delivery systems.”
Professor Subramaniam says he will strive to assist the Otago Medical School push boundaries of medicine, science, education and health care delivery to become one of the world's top medical institutions.
“I hope to lay the foundations, over the coming years, to bring this vision to reality in the next decades.”
For more information, contact:
Craig Borley
Communications Adviser (Division of Health Sciences)
Mob +64 21 279 4144
Email craig.borley@otago.ac.nz
Professor Rathan Subramaniam
Email Rathan.Subramaniam@UTSouthwestern.edu
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