MedCat Alum Named Assistant Dean

Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine Josie Acuña, MD ('13), has accepted the position of assistant dean for clinical competency in the Curricular Affairs Office at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. She steps into this role effective February 6.

In her new role, Dr. Acuña will be overseeing the clinical education portion of the MD program helping to ensure curricular coordination across the preclerkship and clerkship phases, and supporting the clerkship/course directors and their administration and the quality delivery of their courses for ensuring student success.

Dr. Acuña earned her medical degree at COM-T in 2013. She completed residency at Staten Island University Hospital in New York and returned for fellowship in Emergency Ultrasound at COM-T. She has completed more than 30 research projects, won local and national grants for her ultrasound research, and has authored and collaborated on more than 30 publications. She has held national leadership roles, including treasurer for the Society of Clinical Ultrasound Fellowship.

Dr. Acuña is the DEI for the Department of Emergency Medicine and served as previous chair of the DEI committee at COM-T. In addition to her clinical research, she conducts research on the equity and inclusion within the field of emergency medicine, shedding light on this important topic. Dr. Acuña is committed to the clinical education of our medical students.