Leadership
Saad B. Omer, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Dean of the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health
Saad B. Omer, M.B.B.S, M.P.H, Ph.D., is the Founding Dean of Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. Dr. Omer joined UT Southwestern from Yale University, where he was inaugural Director of the Yale Institute for Global Health. Dr. Omer is an internationally recognized epidemiologist and policy adviser whose work has positively impacted communities around the world. His research portfolio includes epidemiology of respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV, and SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19); vaccine trials, immunization coverage, and acceptance; and public health preparedness strategies to effectively respond to large emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks. His work has been cited in global and country-specific public health policy, practices, and legislation. Dr. Omer was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2022.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Associate Professor
May Lau, M.D., M.P.H., oversees student affairs functions for the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. Currently an Associate Professor in Pediatrics at UT Southwestern and the Medical Director of the Adolescent and Young Adult clinic at Children’s Health, Dr. Lau brings extensive experience in mentoring students and leading research in mental and reproductive health. Dr. Lau graduated from Cornell University as a Psychology major and trained as a physician at Albany Medical College.
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Associate Dean of Research
Professor
Dr. Sarah Messiah is a perinatal/pediatric and life course epidemiologist and a tenured Professor of Epidemiology in the O'Donnell School of Public Health (OSPH) and a Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). She is also the Associate Dean for Research in the OSPH and Director of the Child and Adolescent Population Health Program (CAPHP), a collaboration between the OSPH and Children's Health System of Texas. CAPHP's mission is to improve the health of North Texas pediatric populations through state-of-the-art health promotion research and implementation science. CAPHP''s vision is to create a healthier future for pediatric populations by making existing clinical and community health programs more evidence-based, and by extending program reach to even more families throughout the state.
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Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Professor
Trish M. Perl, M.D., MSc, is the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs (interim) at the O’Donnell School of Public Health and the H. Ben and Isabelle T. Decherd Chair in Internal Medicine (Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine). Dr. Perl joined UT Southwestern in 2016 as the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine where she played a pivotal role in its redevelopment and expansion. Prior to joining UT Southwestern, Dr. Perl served as a Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Professor in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Perl has earned global recognition for her pioneering research in healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and their prevention. Her exceptional expertise in outbreak management and mitigation extends internationally, making her a leading consultant on guideline development and strategies to counter emerging threats in healthcare. Dr. Perl's unwavering dedication to healthcare epidemiology continues to drive her active involvement in monitoring and supporting the national and local responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Professor
L. Joseph Su, Ph.D., M.P.H., joined UT Southwestern from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he was Professor of Epidemiology at the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, and Associate Director of Population Sciences and Co-Director of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Dr. Su is an experienced epidemiologist who has studied the role of nutrition and lifestyle in prostate and breast cancers and epigenetic effects of environmental contaminants. Over his academic career, Dr. Su has served as director of curriculum at several public health schools. He also held leadership positions at the National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration.
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Special Assistant to the Dean for Research Initiatives
Professor
Celette Sugg Skinner, Ph.D., is Professor and former Interim Dean of the UT Southwestern Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. She also holds the Parkland Community Medicine Professorship. As the Inaugural Chair of the Department of Population and Data Sciences at the UT Southwestern School of Medicine, Dr. Skinner grew the faculty to 45 members with an annual research portfolio of more than $10 million and was elected President of Population Health Leaders in Academic Medicine (PHLAM). In addition, she is Founding Associate Director of Population Science for the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. A pioneer in computer-tailored health communications, Dr. Skinner has spent more than 30 years developing and testing innovative behavior-change interventions, primarily for underserved groups. Her scientific publications have been cited approximately 32,000 times.
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Romaine F. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H.
M.D./M.P.H. Program Director
Romaine F. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H., is Director of the M.D./M.P.H. Program. He also is Professor of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and holds the Beth and Marvin C. “Cub” Culbertson Professorship in Pediatric Otolaryngology. A nationally recognized public health scientist and pediatric otolaryngologist, Dr. Johnson has focused his career on improving the lives of children with complex airway and throat issues. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology, as Director of the Pediatric Voice and the Swallowing Clinic at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, and as a member of the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Exam Council. He earned his M.D. from Drexel University College of Medicine and his M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
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