Internationally known researcher Dr. Charles (Charly) J. Lockwood has taken the reins as senior vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. In addition to the medical school, he also leads the Colleges of Nursing, Public Health and Pharmacy; the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; the School of Biomedical Sciences; and the Doctors of USF Health, the largest specialty physicians’ group in West Central Florida.
Dr. Lockwood, 59, previously served three years as the dean of the Ohio State University College of Medicine and vice president of Health Sciences. Prior appointments include leadership positions at Yale University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
Dr. Lockwood said he is excited for the opportunities available at the University of South Florida.
“The passion, the energy and the spirit of innovation that permeate this institution puts it in great position to move ahead,” Dr. Lockwood said.
USF Health is poised to harness emerging technologies to improve patient care and respond to shifting healthcare policies, Dr. Lockwood said in a video message.
“In our clinical mission, we must respond aggressively to sweeping changes associated with healthcare reform and new payment structures,” Dr. Lockwood said. “But we’re up for the challenge.”
An obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Lockwood’s clinical interests include the preventions of preterm delivery, recurrent pregnancy loss and maternal thrombosis. He is credited with leading the research team that discovered fetal fibronectin, the first biochemical predictor of prematurity. His research lab is being relocated to USF Health.
“Dr. Lockwood is not only an innovative medical educator, but he is an accomplished researcher and entrepreneurial thinker who will be a leader for our region, state and nation,” USF System President Judy Genshaft said of his appointment.
The dean earned a Sc.B., magna cum laude, from Brown University; his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine; and a Master of Science in Health Care Management from the Harvard School of Public Health. He served his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Pennsylvania Hospital and his fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the Yale-New Haven Hospital.
The maternal-fetal medicine specialist has authored more than 270 peer-reviewed publications; 80 chapters and reviews and 141 editorials. He has authored or co-authored three books and edited seven textbooks.
Though there are challenges to be met, Dr. Lockwood said, the evolution of technology has made it an especially exciting time to be in the medical field.
“We have imaging and technology that I couldn’t have dreamt of when I started medical school,” he said.
Dr. Lockwood said he chose USF Health because of the great foundation built by students and faculty with a passion for excellence, and he looks forward to building upon that foundation with the latest developments in medical technology.
“At USF Health, we’re going to leverage the technology revolution to prevent disease and find valuable new treatments,” he said.