Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, holder of the Grace and Emery Beardsley Chair in Ophthalmology and director of the USC Eye Institute, was announced as the interim dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC on March 24 in an email from Provost Michael Quick, PhD.

Varma, who serves as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, is professor of ophthalmology and preventive medicine, and recently was elected president of USC Care Medical Group, will be continuing in all his current leadership roles while a nationwide search is underway to identify a new permanent dean for the Keck School.

In his email, Quick stated, “An accomplished physician-scientist, Dr. Varma is also a dedicated and capable leader and we appreciate his service in this interim role.”

Varma earned his medical degree at the University of Delhi, India, and his master of public health degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA, announced his resignation as dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC in a March 24 email addressed to faculty, staff and students of the medical school. Puliafito stepped down to “return to academic ophthalmology and pursue some identified opportunities in health care,” according to the statement.

Puliafito had served as dean of the Keck School of Medicine since 2007.

— Amanda Busick