Louise D. McCullough, MD, PhD, named McGovern Medical School’s executive vice dean for research
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Louise D. McCullough, MD, PhD, as executive vice dean for research at McGovern Medical School and inaugural holder of the UTHealth Houston Distinguished Chair in Research, effective Oct. 1.
In the executive vice dean role, Dr. McCullough will partner with faculty, research leaders across McGovern Medical School, and university leadership to strengthen the infrastructure that supports research. Her priorities will include expanding opportunities for clinicians, clinician scientists, and researchers; enhancing mentoring and grant development programs; advancing strategic faculty recruitment and retention; and building collaborative initiatives that position our school for continued growth and national prominence.
Dr. McCullough also will serve as vice president for research for UTHealth Houston Neurosciences, partnering across UTHealth Houston, Memorial Hermann, and Harris Health to build a more coordinated and well-resourced research enterprise that complements and strengthens our clinical mission. Her leadership will help expand our research portfolio, accelerate discovery and its translation into clinical practice, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and attract exceptional investigators and transformative research investments.
These appointments follow Dr. McCullough’s decision to step down as chair of the Department of Neurology to devote more of her time and expertise to advancing the school’s growing research enterprise. On Oct. 1, Samden Lhatoo, MD, who has been pivotal in expanding the department’s clinical programs, research enterprise, and national reputation since joining the faculty in 2018, will assume the role of chair.
Dr. McCullough is an internationally recognized physician-scientist whose leadership and scholarship have helped elevate McGovern Medical School’s research enterprise and strengthen its reputation in neuroscience and brain health. Since joining McGovern Medical School in 2015 as chair of the Department of Neurology, she has built nationally recognized programs in stroke, dementia, and vascular cognitive impairment while fostering a culture of scientific discovery, collaboration, and mentorship. Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association, and she has received numerous honors, including the Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award and the Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship, just to name a few. She was also recently named Memorial Hermann’s Physician of the Year.
Dr. McCullough’s combination of scientific excellence, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to mentorship makes her exceptionally well positioned to help shape the future of research at McGovern Medical School.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. McCullough as she takes on these new roles in advancing discovery, accelerating innovation, and improving the health of patients and communities for generations to come.