Andrew Landstrom, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics and cell biology, has been named director of the Duke Pediatric Research Scholars Program for Physician-Scientist Development (DPRS), effective April 1, 2021. Landstrom has served as associate director of the program since July 2020.
Landstrom is a physician-scientist trained in pediatric cardiology, human genetics, and molecular pharmacology. He has been involved in exploring the genetics and molecular causes of sudden cardiac death predisposing diseases for over a decade. His research is also focused on heritable arrythmias, cardiomyopathies, and malformations of the heart.
Rasheed Gbadegesin, MD, MBBS, who has served as director since September 2018, is stepping down from his role with the program to focus on his new roles as associate dean for physician-scientist development and director of the Office of Physician-Science Development (OPSD) in the School of Medicine.
“We are grateful to Dr. Gbadegesin for his service to DPRS and look forward to partnering with Dr. Landstrom to continue providing outstanding leadership to our physician-scientist trainees,” said Ann M. Reed, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief of Duke Children’s.
The DPRS is dedicated to training young physician-scientists and preparing them for successful careers in academic medicine. The program focuses on the period from the completion of the MD, MD/PhD, or DO/PhD degree through residency and fellowship training, with the goal of achieving a full-time academic appointment as an investigator. The DPRS combines the intensive clinical training environment of Duke Children’s with the rigorous scientific training of the world-renowned laboratories at Duke University.