Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel J. Rubin, MD, MSc, FACE, Professor of Medicine, as Co-Director for the Center for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (CBE) at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Dr. Rubin has served with dedication and effectiveness as interim Co-Director of the CBE since May 2023. Dr. Rubin will continue to share leadership responsibilities with current Co-Director, Shannon Lynch, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
 
Dr. Rubin, Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, joined the Lewis Katz School of Medicine faculty in 2010 as an Assistant Professor. During his tenure at Temple, Dr. Rubin has emerged as an academic leader, who currently also serves as Deputy Section Chief and Director of Clinical Research in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism within the Department of Medicine. His research focuses on predicting and preventing hospital readmissions among patients with diabetes and on in-patient diabetes management, and he currently holds a grant from the NIH’s National Institute of Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) to develop and prospectively validate EHR-integrated readmission risk prediction models for hospitalized patients with diabetes.
 
As Co-Director, Dr. Rubin will partner with Dr. Lynch to manage administrative functions for the CBE, overseeing its Cores in Informatics/Data Science, Biostatistics, and Education. With their deep experience and proven leadership in population-based, community-centered translational, clinical, and epidemiological research, Drs. Rubin and Lynch will continue their successful collaborative partnership to lead the CBE into its next chapter. We look forward to their ongoing efforts to align its activities with those of the broader research and educational community at Temple.
 
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Rubin on his appointment.

Sincerely,

Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS
The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean
Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Marianne LaRussa, a cherished member of the Temple family, passed away on August 25, 2024.

Marianne began her career at Katz in September 2011 as an Executive Assistant/Senior Coordinator supporting senior leadership across at Katz. Over the years, her dedication and exceptional leadership were evident as she took on increasingly significant roles.
In 2017, she was promoted to Project Manager, and in 2018, she became the Senior Manager of Undergraduate Medical Education (UME). Her outstanding contributions led to her appointment as Sr. Director of Undergraduate Medical Education in 2022.

Throughout her tenure at Temple, Marianne's tireless efforts were instrumental in shaping the success of Katz. Her work has left an indelible mark on our institution, and her legacy will continue to inspire us all.

We extend our deepest condolences to Marianne’s family, friends, and all who worked with her.

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students, 

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Toby Eisenstein, a beloved member of our faculty. Beyond her acumen as a scientist and researcher, Dr. Eisenstein was a mentor, a cherished colleague, an inspiring teacher and a caring and generous member of our Temple family. Her legacy is one of relentless pursuit of knowledge and unwavering support for her students and peers.  

Her academic journey began at Wellesley College and continued at Bryn Mawr College, where she earned her PhD in 1969. Her temporary position at Temple in that same year turned into a lifelong commitment, as she balanced the demands of a rigorous academic career with the joy of her family life.

Throughout her 50 years at Temple, Dr. Eisenstein’s research spanned from developing vaccines for typhoid fever and Legionnaires’ disease to exploring the intersection of IV drug use and HIV. Her work in understanding the effects of opioids on the immune system led to the establishment of the Center for Substance Abuse Research, which she co-directed with distinction. Her contributions to our school and her field were celebrated in a portrait unveiling in October 2019. 

 As our community grieves her loss, contributions in her memory may be made to the Toby K. Eisenstein Endowed Fund the Center for Substance Abuse Research, helping to continue her exceptional work fostering discoveries that improve lives and advance our understanding of addiction.  

With deepest sympathy, 

 

Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS
The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean
Lewis Katz School of Medicine
 

 

Ellen Unterwald, PhD 
Chair and Professor, Department of Neural Sciences 
Professor, Center for Substance Abuse Research 

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Naomi Rosenberg, MD, as the Assistant Dean for Narrative Medicine and Health Humanities at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, effective September 1, 2024.

A highly respected physician, educator and writer, Dr. Rosenberg earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Temple. In addition to her clinical work as an attending physician here since 2016, she has been at the forefront of integrating narrative medicine into our curriculum. As Director of the Narrative Medicine Program since 2022, she has led our groundbreaking narrative-based curriculum and certificate program that has become a model for medical education. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

From 2004 until his death in 2022, Dr. Rosenberg worked under Dr. Paul Farmer, a pioneer in community-based treatment strategies, in a variety of roles to advance health equity and expand access to high-quality, comprehensive health care for patients around the world. From 2007-2013, she directed the Right to Health Care program at the global health non-profit Partners In Health, and managed critical patient evacuations and long-term care following the 2010 Haiti earthquake as well as developing a model for community-based accompaniment of traumatically-injured and critically-ill immigrants and refugees. While at Temple, Dr. Rosenberg coordinated logistics for Operation Allies Welcome at Philadelphia International Airport in 2021, where she helped coordinate medical care for Afghan evacuees. Her contributions in these roles have earned her the Medal of Service from the Philadelphia Association of Haitian Churches in 2010 and the Rising Star Award from the Roosevelt Institute in 2014.

In her new role as Assistant Dean, Dr. Rosenberg will continue to expand the Narrative Medicine program, developing platforms for patients, students and staff to reflect on their experiences, supporting faculty across disciplines in integrating health humanities, and creating initiatives that deepen our community's involvement with narrative medicine while broadening the program’s influence and reputation.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Rosenberg on this well-deserved appointment.

 

Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS
The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean
Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Claire Raab, MD
President & CEO
Temple Faculty Physicians