ABOUT //
Empowering communities at home and abroad
Advancing Academic Excellence and Fostering Global Connections
In close collaboration with the senior vice chancellor for the health sciences, the Office of Academic and Global Affairs is dedicated to implementing high-priority academic programs and projects that extend both locally and globally.
Within the University, the office hosts platforms for scientific sessions and stimulating talks that are not to be missed. The office strives to foster connections among our colleagues, providing opportunities to delve into topics of significance that might otherwise go unnoticed and to learn about the work of faculty from across the health sciences.
As the global hub for the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, the office works to implement initiatives to address critical challenges in global health. The office aims to harness the power of research, education, partnerships and service to reduce the burden of disease, improve the well-being of people and the planet, and respond to health inequities.
Margaret C. McDonald, PhD, MFA
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic and Global Affairs, Health Sciences
Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine
Contact:
mmaggie@pitt.edu
+1-412-383-7474
Margaret C. McDonald, PhD, MFA, is associate vice chancellor for academic and global affairs, health sciences. In this capacity, she coordinates the development and support of research, educational, and public affairs initiatives within the health sciences schools and between the health sciences and other University units; provides expert support to University executive staff; and promotes and implements health-related collaborative relationships with academic institutions in other countries. Dr. McDonald has been a member of the project development team for initiatives in Sapporo, Japan (residency program in general internal medicine); Palermo, Italy (fellowship training for Ri.MED Foundation scientists); Erzurum, Turkey (School of Medicine curriculum needs assessment); Cairo, Egypt (maternal and child health in rural areas); Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (health sciences curriculum consultation for Princess Noura University); and Astana, Kazakhstan (development of a new medical school at Nazarbayev University), as well as academic collaborations with universities and hospitals in Sao Paolo, Brazil; Manila, Philippines; Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Changsha, China; Danang, Vietnam; and Hyderabad, India, among others.
Dr. McDonald collaborates closely with UPMC International to advance partnerships of mutual benefit to both entities. She also regularly convenes the global health representatives from the six health sciences schools to initiate and respond to a broad range of opportunities and to leverage existing expertise into a strong Health Sciences Global Affairs team. On the academic affairs side, Dr. McDonald and her team routinely organize and implement academic and research-based activities and events designed to advance research, collaboration, and innovation within and beyond the health sciences schools.
Dr. McDonald is associate professor of epidemiology in the Graduate School of Public Health and associate professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine. Her research interests include health and risk communication and the global burden of psychiatric illness.
Dr. McDonald received her BA in English and drama from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her MFA from Antioch University, and her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Before coming to the University of Pittsburgh in 1983, Dr. McDonald had a successful career as a science and medical journalist.
Lisa Lorence
Director, Academic and Global Programs
Contact:
llorence@pitt.edu
+1-412-383-7380
Lisa provides senior level professional support to the associate vice chancellor for academic and global affairs, including strategic planning and human resources and budgetary management. Lisa is the main conference and event planner for the Schools of Health Sciences, and she and her team manage the day-to-day logistics for the department’s comprehensive visiting scholar programs and ongoing lecture series.
Romeo Kihumbu, MBA, MS
Global Affairs Research and Finance Administrator
Contact:
rmk124@pitt.edu
+1-412-648-2367
Romeo has a polyglot background and 17 years of experience in higher education, teaching, nonprofits, international affairs, and hospitality. He brings a wealth of diversity to his primary duties, which include assisting the associate vice chancellor for academic and global affairs with project research and financial analysis in addition to special project consultation.
William Tanner
Project Coordinator
wgt7@pitt.edu
William is the lead administrative coordinator for the Office of Academic and Global Affairs’ visiting scholar programs, conferences, events, and department lecture series. He is responsible for department purchasing and procurement, CME processes, and room scheduling.
Mark Williamson
Contact:
msw85@pitt.edu
+1-412-648-0053
Mark manages international academic agreements with partner institutions and acts as a liaison between the Office of Academic and Global Affairs and the University Center for International Studies (UCIS). He assists in the management of the visiting international scholars’ programs and special event planning. Mark assists with the coordination of academic programs for visiting international physicians and other health professionals, including logistics for visiting delegations.
Olivia Warren, MFA
Contact:
oew2@pitt.edu
+1-412-383-7382
Olivia provides professional support for the associate vice chancellor for academic and global affairs, including meeting scheduling and travel coordination. She assists with project logistics related to the international visiting scholars’ programs, annual and monthly conferences and lectures, and other projects/events as needed.