Events Calendar

Connecting the Campus: Establishing New Pathways for Interdisciplinary Innovation, Collaboration, and Programming

Speaker: Professor Elahe Nezami, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Talk Title: Connecting the Campus: Establishing New Pathways for Interdisciplinary Innovation, Collaboration, and Programming

Abstract: The continued globalization of the world and complementary globalization of health-related services and industries demands that education likewise transform to adequately prepare students to become leaders in the fields of public health and medicine. New programs must train students in multiple disciplines to ground their healthcare knowledge in cultural, social, political, and technical expertise. Students desire and demand a broader set of skills from their training, and universities must anticipate the advances in the fields into which their graduates will enter to provide such training. Collaborating and partnering with colleagues across campus allows for the development and creation of cutting-edge education and training programs that are designed to prepare students to become future leaders of industry, even as industries merge and change and expectations of graduates’ expertise broaden. Additionally, the creation of new collaborative programs allows for the expansion of adaptive learning environments and the integration of the newest technologies and pedagogical approaches. By developing partnerships across the schools of the university, innovative new programs will graduate new innovators, and USC will remain at the fore of educational excellence. The creation of interdisciplinary programs at USC at the undergraduate and graduate level has yielded outstanding results thus far, encouraging new partnerships in new fields with high growth potential. The programs, and potential programs will be outlined and highlighted.

Biography: Dr. Elahe Nezami serves as director of the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies and Global Health programs at the undergraduate level, and the Master of Science in Global Medicine program at the graduate level. She is also the associate dean for Undergraduate, Masters, and Professional programs of the Keck School of Medicine of USC and co-director of the Wireless Health Technology program.
Dr. Nezami’s research examines determinants of behavioral risk factors for chronic diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Other research projects include examination of personality characteristics in relation to cardiovascular disease, and self-medication theories of smoking. Dr. Nezami received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Southern California, where she also completed a post-doctoral fellowship.

Host: Professor Sandeep Gupta

Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Mayumi Thrasher