Steven Shapiro, MD, will serve as interim dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC beginning July 1, USC President Carol L. Folt, PhD, announced in a memo. Shapiro currently serves as USC’s senior vice president for health affairs, and will assume this additional leadership role during the national search for a permanent dean. He is co-chairing the search with Provost Charles F. Zukoski, according to the June 30 memo.

“Dr. Shapiro joined USC in May and has already built terrific partnerships throughout our university community, while promoting innovative care and research across USC’s medical enterprise,” Folt wrote. “Prior to his arrival, he served in a number of roles at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Dr. Shapiro has a strong track record as a dedicated institutional leader, and I’m confident his broad experience and expertise will be a great asset to our Keck community during this transition.”

Narsing Rao, MD, has served as interim dean of the Keck School since Sept. 16, 2020. Before he accepted the position of interim dean, Rao was chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, and co-director of the USC Roski Eye Institute.

“He stepped up during a particularly challenging time – as our world faced a global health pandemic – and led with vision and compassion,” Folt wrote. “Along with the outstanding team at Keck and KSOM, Dr. Rao kept everything running smoothly for our students, faculty, and staff to continue their important work. We are grateful for his leadership, and we look forward to his continued contributions to our Keck community as a teacher, researcher, clinician, and leader in our ophthalmology department.”