Leadership

A group photo of the dean's leadership team

Helen Boucher, MD, Dean, Tufts University School of Medicine

Helen W. Boucher, MD, FACP, FIDSA, (Hon) FRCPI
Dean and Professor of Medicine

Helen Boucher is the dean and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and chief academic officer of the Tufts Medicine. An active Infectious Diseases physician, she was previously chief of the Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Tufts Medical Center, and director of the Stuart B. Levy Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (Levy CIMAR).

Boucher’s clinical interests include infections in immunocompromised patients and S. aureus infections. Her research interests focus on S. aureus and the development of new anti-infective agents. She is the chair of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) Innovations Working Group, and serves on the Executive and Steering Committees. Boucher is the author or coauthor of numerous abstracts, chapters, and peer-reviewed articles, which have been published in such journals as The New England Journal of Medicine, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and The Annals of Internal Medicine. She is Associate Editor of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, editor of the Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy, and Infectious Diseases Clinics of North America.

In 2015, Boucher was appointed a voting member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB), and elected Treasurer of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). She was awarded the IDSA Society Citation Award in October 2015. Boucher serves as chair of the Board of Trustees of The College of the Holy Cross and as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Physicians of Tufts Medical Center.

Laura Baecher-Lind

Laura Baecher-Lind, MD, MPH
Dean of Educational Affairs

Laura Baecher-Lind has been part of the Tufts organization since 2009 as a busy OB-GYN physician. She was previously the director of the TUSM OB-GYN clerkship and has led the Division of General OB-GYN at Tufts Medical Center. In her current role as dean of educational affairs, Baecher-Lind takes an engaged and analytic approach to her work to advance medical education and to ensure an inclusive curriculum. She actively publishes in both clinical and medical education literature and serves on several national organizations including Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), as well as several subcommittees devoted to inclusive clinical and learning environments. In her free time, Baecher-Lind loves nothing more than hiking, camping, or kayaking with her husband, three children, and geriatric golden doodle.

Michael Chin

Michael Chin, MD, PhD
Dean of Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences

Michael Chin is Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at Tufts University School of Medicine and serve the community of faculty scientists, students, and staff. In this role, he hopes to foster the growth of the enterprise by recruiting and training young scientists and forging partnerships within the greater community of TUSM and TMC, where he remains active as a Research Director, practicing physician and medical educator. He has more than three decades of experience as a faculty member in medicine and science, while building additional entrepreneurial, management and administrative skills. He obtained his MD and PhD degrees through the Medical Scientist Training program at the University of Rochester, then completed Internal Medicine training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute on Aging, Cardiology training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and has served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and the University of Washington, where he obtained a Certificate in Medical Management prior to joining Tufts. At Tufts Medical Center, he serves as Research Director for the Tufts Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center and Investigator in the Molecular Cardiology Research Institute. At TUSM, he is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program. He is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and a Fellow of the American Heart Association. He is an internationally recognized expert in cardiovascular molecular biology and has run an NIH-funded research laboratory for many years. His educational interests focus on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and resilience. He enjoys walking the beach on Cape Cod with his family, noting the coastal flora and fauna and occasionally providing resilience training for striped bass by educating them about the hazards of artificial lures prior to releasing them.

Scott Epstein

Scott Epstein, MD
Director of Continuous Quality Improvement & Accreditation, Medical Director of the PA Program

Scott Epstein is a professor of medicine and public health & community medicine at TUSM. He serves as the director of continuous quality improvement (CQI) and accreditation, and as medical director of the Physician Assistant program. A 1984 TUSM graduate, he completed internal medicine residency training and served as chief medical resident at Tufts Medical Center. In 1992, he joined the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division at Tufts Medical Center, eventually directing the Medical Intensive Care Unit and conducting research on mechanical ventilation and various aspects of critical care. From 2004-2007, he was Vice Chair for Education, Residency Program Director, and Clerkship Director in the Department of Medicine at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, a Tufts teaching hospital. Epstein then spent 15 years as TUSM dean for educational affairs. During that time, he led two major curricular revisions and two successful LCME accreditations. He has been a committed educator in the classroom and at the bedside. He directed the 2nd year TUSM Pulmonary Course for nearly 25 years and now co-directs the Introduction to Clinical Reasoning Course.

Richard Freeman

Richard Freeman, Jr., MD, MHL
Vice Dean for Academic Affairs

Richard Freeman has long been an esteemed professor of surgery and leader in medical education. He first came to Tufts in 1990 as an assistant professor of surgery and had a successful academic career, rising to the rank of professor before he left in 2009. Freeman went on to hold multiple academic leadership positions including chair of surgery at Dartmouth School of Medicine, vice dean for clinical affairs at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, and most recently as chief medical officer and chief academic officer at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, MA. Freeman received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed his internship and residency in surgery, as well as a fellowship in transplantation, through the Harvard Surgical Service at BIDMC, and received his master’s degree in Healthcare Leadership from Brown University. He is an international expert in organ transplantation, has participated as principal investigator in 30 clinical trials, and has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and abstracts. Freeman’s research interests also include technology, teamwork, and effective leadership in workplace environments.

Heather Gasper

Heather Gasper
Executive Director, Office of the Dean of the School of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer of Tufts Medicine

Heather Gasper is the executive director for the office of the dean of Tufts University School of Medicine and chief academic officer of Tufts Medicine. She has the distinct pleasure of supporting and advancing the school’s vision of becoming the premier medical school revolutionizing health education and inspiring discovery now and for future generations. Driven by a passion for helping people and mission-based work, she is proud to work on behalf of an institution with such strong core values. Prior to her role as executive director, Gasper has had senior roles at Boston City Hall and Boston Public Health Partners HealthCare, and as a congressional advisor to Congressman Michael Capuano in his DC office. She earned a B.A. in Political Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Amy Kuhlik

Amy Kuhlik, MD
Dean of Student Affairs

Amy Kuhlik joined TUSM in 2000 as dean of student affairs. Kuhlik received her BA from Brown University and her MD from the University of Michigan Medical School. Kuhlik completed her residency training in internal medicine at Tufts Medical Center where she also served as chief resident in medicine. She completed a fellowship in nephrology at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston where she subsequently worked for ten years as an attending physician and associate firm chief. She is the past chair of the Northeast Regional Group on Student Affairs through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), served on the AAMC advisory committee to the Careers in Medicine Program and currently serves on the AAMC ERAS advisory committee. She also serves on the advisory committee on medical students to the Massachusetts Physician Health Service. Kuhlik is a member of the American Society of Nephrology and American College of Physicians, and serves on the editorial board as the ad hoc reviewer for the American Society of Nephrology and Academic Medicine.

MaryPat Lohse

MaryPat Lohse, PhD
Senior Director of Administration

MaryPat Lohse serves as the senior director of administration at TUSM. With more than twenty-five years of experience in higher education, she serves as a member of the dean’s leadership team and provides hands-on leadership in the development and execution of core initiatives at the School of Medicine. Prior to joining Tufts, MaryPat worked at Lesley University, Brandeis University, Boston College, and Wheelock College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Canisius College, a master’s degree in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Boston College.

Tom Malone

Thomas Malone
Executive Vice Dean of Strategy and Operations

Tom Malone is the executive vice dean of strategy and operations and serves as chief financial officer and chief operating officer for TUSM and is the dean’s designee with key stakeholders, including faculty, administrators, university leadership, donors, and board of advisors. He leads the implementation of strategic priorities and new programs and elevates TUSM’s profile regionally and nationally. Before joining Tufts in 2014, his previous work included leadership roles at multiple medical schools managing clinical and research operations. Malone earned an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Albany and a Master of Public Administration in Health Policy and Management from New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Karl Munger, PhD

Karl Munger, PhD
Interim Vice Dean for Research

Karl Munger is the Dorothy Todd Bishop Research Professor and Chair of the Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology (DMCB). He has been with TUSM since 2014 and has led the DMCB department since 2019. He earned his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Zurich, completed his postdoctoral training with Peter Howley at the NIH National Cancer Institute. He then joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School where he rose to the rank of Professor in the Department of Medicine before making the move to TUSM. Munger has established an international reputation as a leader in the study of human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which cause 5% of all human cancers. Munger has been continuously NIH-funded for more than two decades and has an impressive publication record with 133 peer-reviewed publications. Munger has demonstrated outstanding leadership over his 30 years of experience. He served as Director for the Building Diversity in Biomedical Sciences Program at Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences from 2017-2019 and as a Co-Director for the Paths to PhD (P2P) program in 2017. He serves on numerous internal and external committees, has convened symposia and teaches in a number of programs at Tufts.

Margie Skeer

Margie Skeer, ScD, MPH, MSW
Interim Chair and Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine

Margie Skeer is a Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine. She received her Masters of Social Work and Masters of Public Health from Boston University and her Doctor of Science in social and behavioral sciences from the Harvard School of Public Health. She then completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies. She joined the faculty at the Tufts University School of Medicine in 2011 as an Assistant Professor and became a Professor in 2022. Skeer leads several research studies focusing on interventions related to substance use and prevention and serves as an active member in a local substance use prevention coalition. Due to her impressive contributions to the field, she has been interviewed by various media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine. Dr. Skeer is passionate about the research that she and her incredible team are engaged in and looks forward to seeing the impact of this highly important work.

Kristin Tommey

Kristin Tommey
Senior Director of Development and Alumni Engagement

Kristin Tommey leads fundraising and alumni engagement for the Tufts School of Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Passionate about building joyous, collaborative, and high-achieving teams, Kristin has spent her career in higher education and academic medicine developing strategies that inspire donors and advance institutional priorities. Prior to returning to Tufts (her alma mater) in November 2023, Kristin led advancement for the Museum of Science following 13 years at The University of Texas at Austin. At UT, she led development for the new Dell Medical School and its UT Health Austin clinical practice, launching the school's grateful patient program, as well as its participation in the university's historic $6B What Starts Here campaign. Additionally, she led development communications at the Cockrell School of Engineering and School of Undergraduate Studies. Kristin is a proud Tufts undergraduate alum and served as managing editor of the Tufts Daily while earning her bachelor's degree in International Relations and German.

Wayne Altman

Wayne J. Altman, MD, FAAFP
Jaharis Family Chair in Family Medicine,
Professor of Family Medicine,
Tufts University School of Medicine

Geoff Binney

Geoffrey G. Binney, MD, MPH 
Chair and David And Leona F. Karp Professor of Pediatrics, 
Tufts University School of Medicine
Pediatrician-in-Chief, Tufts Medical Center

Gennaro Carpinito, MD

Gennaro Carpinito, MD
Chair and Charles M. Whitney Professor of Urology,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Urologist-in-Chief, Tufts Medical Center

Charles Cassidy

Charles Cassidy, MD
Henry H. Banks Chair and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery,
Chair of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Orthopaedist-in-Chief, Tufts Medical Center

Chris Dulla, PhD

Christopher Dulla, PhD
Interim Chair and Professor of Neuroscience,
Tufts University School of Medicine

Brent Forester

Brent P. Forester, MD, MSc
Dr. Frances S. Arkin Chair and Professor of Psychiatry,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Psychiatrist-in-Chief and Chair of Psychiatry, Tufts Medical Center

Karen Freund

Karen Freund, MD, MPH
Chair and Sheldon M. Wolff Professor of Medicine,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Physician-in-Chief, Department of Medicine,
Tufts Medical Center

Jason Hall

Jason Hall, MD, MPH
Benjamin Andrews Chair and Professor of Surgery,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Surgeon-in-Chief and Chair of Surgery,
Tufts Medical Center

Daichi Hayashi

Daichi Hayashi, MD, PhD, MHCM 
Interim Chair and Professor of Radiology, 
Tufts University School of Medicine 
Interim Chair of Radiology, Tufts Medical Center

Eric Hegedus

Eric Hegedus, PT, DPT, PhD, MHSc
Chair and Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences,
Tufts University School of Medicine

Berri Jaque

Berri Jacque, PhD
Chair and Associate Professor of Medical Education,
Tufts University School of Medicine

Matthew Katz

Matthew Katz, MD, FASTRO 
Interim Chair of Radiation Oncology and Associate Professor of Medicine, 
Tufts University School of Medicine 
Interim Chair of Radiation Oncology, 
Tufts Medical Center

John Leong

John Leong, MD, PhD
Chair of Molecular Biology and Microbiology,
Edith Rieva and Hyman S. Trilling Professor,
Tufts University School of Medicine

Karl Munger, PhD

Karl Munger, PhD 
Interim Vice Dean for Research,
Chair of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, 
Dorothy Todd Bishop Research Professor, 
Tufts University School of Medicine

Miriam O’Leary

Miriam O'Leary, MD, FACS
Chair and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Chair of Otolaryngology, Tufts Medical Center

Mark Pearlmutter

Mark Pearlmutter, MD
Chair and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine,
Tufts University School of Medicine
SVP of Hospital Based Services, Steward Health Care Network

Jeremy Pena

Jeremy Ryan Pena, MD, PhD
Interim Chair and Associate Professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Interim Chair and Pathologist-in-Chief, Tufts Medical Center

alexander poltorak

Alexander Poltorak, PhD
Chair and Professor of Immunology,
Tufts University School of Medicine

John Adam Reich

John Adam Reich, MD
Chair and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, Tufts Medical Center

Ron Riesenburger, MD

Ron Riesenburger, MD
Interim Chair and Professor of Neurosurgery,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Interim Chair of Neurosurgery,
Tufts Medical Center

Margie Skeer

Margie Skeer, ScD, MPH, MSW
Interim Chair and Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine

David Thaler

David E. Thaler, MD, PhD
Chair and Professor of Neurology,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Neurologist-in-Chief, Tufts Medical Center

Reza Vagefi

M. Reza Vagefi, MD
Chair and Professor of Ophthalmology,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Chair of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center

Erika Werner

Erika Werner, MD 
Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 
Louis E. Phaneuf Research and Teaching Professor of Gynecology, 
Tufts University School of Medicine 
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center
President, Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization

Clarissa Yang

Fei-Shiuann Clarissa Yang, MD, MBA, FAAD 
Chair and Harvey B. Ansell Professor of Dermatology, 
Tufts University School of Medicine 
Dermatologist-in-Chief, Tufts Medical Center

Beth Buyea

Beth Buyea, DHSc, PA-C
Program Director, PA Program
Clinical Associate Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine
 

Kimberly Dong, Dr.P.H., M.S., R.D.

Kimberly Dong, DrPH, MS, RD
Program Director, Public Health Program
Associate Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine

James Kubilus

James Kubilus, PhD
Program Director, MBS Program
Assistant Professor of Medical Education
Tufts University School of Medicine

Evan Papa

Evan Papa, PT, DPT, PhD
Program Director, DPT-Seattle Program
Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences
Tufts University School of Medicine

Tawna Wilkinson

Tawna Wilkinson, PT, DPT, PhD
Program Director, DPT-Phoenix Program
Clinical Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences
Tufts University School of Medicine

Alexis Wright

Alexis A. Wright, PhD, DPT
Program Director, DPT-Boston
Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences
Tufts University School of Medicine