Visiting Harvard Professor Sets Up Clinical Trials

New students aren't the only new faces on campus at Samuel Merritt University (SMU) this fall. Adam Landsman, DPM, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the department of Surgery at Harvard University School of Medicine and is on staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The visiting Harvard professor joined the SMU community and is working on establishing clinical trials research program at California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM), a school within SMU.

The initial call came from John Venson, DPM, Dean of CSPM and Professor Department of Podiatric Surgery, asking Dr. Landsman to help move the 95 year old podiatry school to the next level.  Dr. Venson and Dr. Landsman have worked together for over 15 years previously, on research at the Scholl College when Dr. Venson was Chair of the Department of Medicine and Surgery.

"I worked with Dr. John Venson in the past and when he told me his school was going to intensify its podiatric research program, I knew that was something I would like to be a part of," said Dr. Landsman.

Dr. Landsman has over 15 years of experience in wound care, and nearly 25 years in related research. He is a 1984 graduate of the University of Virginia, with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He went on to attend a dual degree program in Philadelphia, where he was awarded a Masters and PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and his DPM medical degree from Temple University. He has been in private practice since 1992, with a focus on wound care in patients with Diabetes.

"The California School of Podiatric Medicine is proud of the growth it has accomplished - both in terms of student enrollment and faculty appointments," said Dr. Venson. "Our podiatry students are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such an accomplished professor, and we are excited to have such enthusiastic faculty on board."

Dr. Landsman says he's impressed by the receptive and engaged students, each one willing to learn more about research and the opportunities it presents in the field of podiatry.

"Its interesting coming to a University celebrating its centennial from a school [Harvard] that is approaching 300 years," said Dr. Landsman. "Since starting at SMU this summer, I have noticed that the two schools are interested in being innovative, redo what needs to be done better, and be happy with what seems to be working. They both have the same sense of enthusiasm and urgency to make education process the best they can."

For more about the upcoming clinical trials and how it would transform Samuel Merritt University, read the entire Dr. Landsman's interview.

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