Valdivia selected as next vice dean for basic science

Dean Nancy Andrews has announced that Raphael H. Valdivia, PhD, will be the new vice dean for basic science for the Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Valdivia will begin in this role on July 1, 2014, when current Vice Dean for Basic Science Sally Kornbluth, PhD, becomes provost. As vice dean for basic science, Dr. Valdivia will serve as a liaison between the Dean’s office and the basic science community. His duties will include oversight of the biomedical graduate programs in the School of Medicine, the postdoc office, animal care and compliance programs, School of Medicine core facilities, and research lab space utilization. Valdivia is an associate professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. He also serves as director of graduate studies for the department and as director of the Center for the Genomics of Microbial Systems. Both of those leadership roles will transition to new directors this summer.