Bauer named assistant dean for admissions at Whiddon College of Medicine

Natalie Bauer, Ph.D.

Following a national search, Natalie Bauer, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology, has been appointed assistant dean for admissions at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. 

In her new role, Bauer will oversee the recruitment of a well-rounded student body, work with Whiddon College of Medicine faculty and staff to ensure the students are well prepared for the rigors of a medical career, and provide the strategic vision for admissions in the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree program.  

“Our admissions program has a history of success in seating exceptional M.D. classes,” Bauer said. “My primary goal is to continue this legacy and grow it as we strive to expand our class size moving into our new building. With the support of the excellent admissions office staff, we will be working on new recruiting initiatives over the next few years.”  

Bauer’s appointment follows the retirement of Jonathan Scammell, Ph.D., who had held the position since 2011. Over the past month, she worked closely with Scammell and the admissions staff to ensure a smooth transition in leadership. Additionally, Bauer is serving her second term on the college’s admissions committee and has been active in several admissions-focused subcommittees. 

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Bauer lead our admissions efforts, as she brings the perspective of a faculty member and researcher in the basic sciences as well as an alumna of the medical school to the role,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs. “Under her direction, the Whiddon College of Medicine will remain committed to growing and retaining an exceptional student body.”  

Bauer joined the faculty in 2007 as an assistant professor of pharmacology. Alongside her administrative role, Bauer will continue her teaching and research in the Department of Pharmacology and the USA Center for Lung Biology.  

Her research is focused on understanding the role of circulating extracellular vesicles in pulmonary vascular diseases such as pulmonary hypertension and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Her work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. She has been a primary or contributing author of more than 50 scientific publications.   

Bauer earned a Ph.D. in basic medical sciences with an emphasis on pulmonary vascular disease from the Whiddon College of Medicine. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular pulmonary research at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Prior to joining the faculty at USA, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute.