Dr. Michael Farkouh appointed Associate Dean Research and Clinical Trials at Cedars-Sinai
It is with mixed emotions that we share that Dr. Michael Farkouh our Vice-Chair Research, has accepted an incredible opportunity with Cedars-Sinai as their new Associate Dean of Research and Clinical Trials. Dr. Farkouh has been a champion of our research program and its researchers, and he will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues here in the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Farkouh first joined the Department of Medicine in 2010 and has served as our Vice-Chair Research since 2015. In partnership with his role as Vice-Chair, he also served as the Director of the Heart & Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research and held the Peter Munk Chair in Multinational Clinical Trials at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network where he directed the Cardiovascular Clinical Trials and Translation Unit.
As Vice-Chair, Dr. Farkouh led the establishment of our “Network of Networks” – city-wide, interdisciplinary research teams that signify the best that the University of Toronto has to offer in science. He oversaw our diverse research program with over 400 clinician-scientists and clinician-investigators, and over $182 million in annual research funding. He led the recruitment of numerous endowed research chairs and represented our department at numerous tables locally and nationally. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Farkouh personally mentored numerous residents and fellows and was an inspiration and steadfast supporter of our Clinician Scientist trainees.
Despite his enormous role as Vice-Chair, he has been a highly productive researcher in the department. He served as principal investigator and medical project officer for multiple National Institutes of Health-sponsored trials, including the landmark FREEDOM and TAILOR-PCI trials, and collaborated on multiple large NIH-sponsored initiatives. He founded the Worldwide Network for Innovation in Clinical Education and Research (WNICER), an international clinical trials network that advances multidisciplinary research and served as section editor for Diabetes & Metabolism at the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
In his role as Associate Dean, Dr. Farkouh will support Cedars-Sinai in expanding their clinical trials program in all disciplines. He will have responsibility for evaluating and recommending new strategic growth opportunities and ensuring optimal infrastructure for its research laboratories and facilities.
Dr. Farkouh has been a fantastic leader, mentor and champion of his colleagues and their research. In recognition of his contributions to our program, we are pleased to announce the creation of the Farkouh Network of Networks Award for Research Leadership & Innovation. While he will surely be missed here, we are absolutely thrilled for Dr. Farkouh as he embarks on this next chapter with Cedars-Sinai.
Please join the Department of Medicine in extending our sincerest thanks, congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Farkouh on his new appointment!
