The University of Southampton is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Charlotte Summers as the new Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.
Professor Summers graduated from the University of Southampton with degrees in Medicine and Biomedical Sciences before completing her PhD at the University of Cambridge.
She is currently at the University of Cambridge where she is Director of the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine and a Fellow of Selwyn College. She is also Chief Investigator of HEAL-COVID alongside serving as co-investigator in a number of international collaborations.
In her work as a clinician-scientist, her focus is on the improvement of care and outcomes for acute and critical illnesses - particularly those caused by respiratory failure or lung injury. She was the UK's first NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Intensive Care Medicine and currently serves as NIHR Research Delivery Network National Specialty Lead for Critical Care and Chair of the UKRI-Medical Research Council's Experimental Medicine Panel.
She was a recipient of the Fulbright All-disciplines Scholar Award and a Wellcome Trust Fellowship for Postdoctoral Clinician Scientists. Professor Summers is also a trustee for the Science Media Centre and the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC).
Professor Summers said: "As a proud alumnus of the University, I am thrilled to return as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, where discovery science delivers real-world impact for patients and populations.
"With plans for a new Institute for Medical Innovation well underway, I am particularly excited about working side-by-side with the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and other stakeholders to deliver improvements in human health in the UK and beyond."
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: "Professor Summers is extremely highly regarded not just as a clinician and scientist, but also as a mentor for the next generation of cross-disciplinary researchers. I am delighted she is joining the University as Dean, and I know the values and strengths she brings will be invaluable to the Faculty and wider community. I wish Charlote good luck for the future."
Professor Summers will join Southampton in September. She will be taking over from Professor Diana Eccles, who completes her term after eight years of service.
