I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Iain Scott, PhD, as the new Associate Director of the VMI, effective November 1, 2025. Dr. Scott has been with the VMI since 2014 and is an accomplished basic scientist, investigator, and mentor in the Division of Cardiology. His work focuses on understanding the role of altered mitochondrial energy metabolism in the pathogenesis of diabetes and heart failure. He currently serves as a Co-Director of the Center for Myocardial Biology and has shown strong leadership in mentoring through his roles as a Co-Director of the VMI Postdoctoral Program and Director of the Department of Medicine Postdoctoral Training Program.
In his new role as VMI Associate Director, Dr. Scott will ensure that the faculty are best supported in all areas of career development and that each faculty member has effective mentorship at each career stage. He will develop and lead unique initiatives to provide our faculty with career advancement opportunities and assist in the growth of our research portfolio. Dr. Scott will partner with me to provide strategic oversight of our unique funding mechanisms and participate in final decision-making for faculty recruitment and retention.
I would like to thank and recognize Sruti Shiva, PhD, for her service and accomplishments as the past VMI Associate Director. We are excited for her next leadership opportunities and grateful that she will be staying in our community.
Additionally, I would also like to thank the Associate Director search committee members (Sruti Shiva, PhD; Patrick Pagano, PhD; Daniel Shiwarski, PhD; Delphine Gomez, PhD) and the Chair (Brett Kaufman, PhD) for executing a thoughtful and comprehensive process.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Scott on his new role. I am fully confident in his ability to support our faculty and institute, and I look forward to the continued growth and success of the VMI.
Sincerely,
Steve
Stephen Chan, MD, PhD, FAHA
Vitalant Chair in Vascular Medicine
Professor of Medicine
Director, Vascular Medicine Institute
Director, Center for Pulmonary Vascular Biology and Medicine
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC