Paula Traktman, Ph.D., appointed Dean of MUSC College of Graduate Studies
February 23, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – Paula Traktman, Ph.D., has been appointed dean of the College of Graduate Studies at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Mark Sothmann, Ph.D., MUSC Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost said Traktman will assume the role effective July 1, 2015 contingent upon Board of Trustees approval.
“Dr. Traktman brings an excellent combination of research, teaching, and administrative skills to lead the continued growth and development of the College of Graduate Studies,” Sothmann said.
She will hold faculty appointments in the Departments of Microbiology & Immunology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology in the College of Medicine, and will be a member of the Hollings Cancer Center. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and completed her doctoral degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Traktman completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School. She joined the faculty of Cornell University Medical College as an assistant professor in 1984, with appointments in the departments of Cell Biology & Anatomy and Microbiology. Traktman was promoted to associate professor in 1990 and professor in 1995.
In 1997, Traktman was recruited to the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in her current role as professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. She served in numerous additional leadership roles at MCW, including service as program director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program of Biomedical Sciences, senior associate dean for Research Development, and associate director for Basic Sciences of the MCW Cancer Center.
Traktman is involved with numerous professional organizations including the American Medical School of Microbiology and Immunology Chairs, the American Society for Cell Biology, and the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She is immediate past president of the American Society for Virology, was elected as a fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science in 2007, and was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 2013. Traktman served as chair of the Gordon Conference on Viruses and Cells in 2013.
During the course of her career, Traktman has been involved in medical student and graduate student education, and has served as a mentor to numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members. Traktman’s research focuses on replication and repair of the viral genetic material and the development of novel antiviral therapies. She has a strong record of research funding and publications, and has been invited to give numerous presentations both nationally and internationally.
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 11,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.7 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children’s Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit www.musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit www.muschealth.com.
