Effective Dec. 1, 2019, Joseph Ouzounian, MD, MBA, is the new permanent chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Ouzounian had been a committed and effective interim chair of the department since Nov. 1, 2018.

Ouzounian, professor of obstetrics and gynecology (clinical scholar), is a graduate of the Keck School and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology and his fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Following completion of his training, he joined a large perinatology group practice in the San Gabriel Valley. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the Permanente Medical Group, where he served as the department chair and maternal-fetal medicine director. His international recognition in maternal-fetal medicine led to his recruitment back to Keck Medicine of USC in 2008.

In 2011, he was appointed director of obstetrical services at LAC+USC and chief of the division of maternal-fetal medicine. Since 2012, he has served on the Medical Executive Committee at LAC+USC. In 2013, he was named vice-chair of the department. Most recently, he has continued his higher education by obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Marshall School of Business of USC in May, 2019. Ouzounian has also served as an instructor in the residency programs for affiliate hospitals, including Hollywood Presbyterian, California Hospital Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital and Huntington Memorial Hospital. Ouzounian has been named as a leading obstetrics and gynecology physician by “America’s Top Ob/Gyns” and a “Top Doctor” by Pasadena Magazine.

During his service as division chief and vice chair, Ouzounian was heavily involved in the development of the clinical enterprise. He oversaw the growth of his division from a relatively small clinical practice, to a full-service, full-time practice providing perinatology services at nine hospitals throughout the greater Los Angeles area. He continued to be an effective and efficient recruiter of faculty and department-wide practice expansion during his term as interim chair.

Ouzounian has actively maintained a vibrant multidisciplinary approach to clinical research. Of particular note are a series of clinical studies he led on shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injury that have helped define the management of that particular obstetrical problem. He has conducted additional studies on fetal macrosomia, vaginal birth after cesarean section, and endothelial cell markers in women with gestational diabetes. He is an author on nearly 70 peer reviewed research articles, as well as numerous chapters, reviews, and other professional communications.

Ouzounian has been active in the teaching of medical students, residents and post-doctoral fellows. His ability as a lecturer and his recognition as an expert in the field are demonstrated by his frequent invitations to speak at major post-graduate courses and scientific meetings in both the United States and Europe. Ouzounian’s service record includes major activities at both the local and national level, and he has been an invited examiner for both the written and oral examinations of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2013. A member of Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, he is also a fellow in the Pacific Coast Obstetrical and Gynecological Society and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.