Dr. Erika Crouch recently accepted the position of Vice Chair of the Office of Education in the Department of Pathology and Immunology. Erika is one of the most celebrated and honored faculty in the entire school of medicine for her outstanding work in medical education. It is entirely fitting and appropriate that she be the inaugural leader of this newly formed office. Our department has an exceptional history of education at all levels, with many celebrated faculty. With the creation of this new office and the naming of a vice chair, we have accomplished another major aspect of the strategic plan you created last fall.
Erika is widely recognized for her outstanding work and innovation in medical education. She is one of the most popular teachers in the school, widely celebrated by the students. She is the recipient of numerous education-related awards; she was one of the earliest recipients of the WU Goldstein Leadership Award in Medical Education, has been honored with a WU Alumni Board of Governors Distinguished Faculty Founders Day Award and more recently the medical school’s Second Century Award. Erika is an inaugural member of the WU Academy of Educators.
Erika enjoyed a 30 year research career related to collagen structure and function. This included the discovery and characterization of surfactant protein D and established this protein’s important role in innate immunity. She continues to be active in clinical work, with a focus on breast cancer and women’s health.
Erika is the founding director of AMP Core Labs where she successfully created a robust enterprise for our research, clinical consultation, and outreach efforts. With her new role in the Office of Education, she will transition out of laboratory management. We will name a new director shortly.