Roberta E. Sonnino Named Associate Dean for Academic Faculty Affairs in School of Medicine

Roberta E. Sonnino, M.D., FACS, FAAP, has been appointed Associate Dean for Academic Faculty Affairs and Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Creighton University Medical Center’s School of Medicine. In this position, Dr. Sonnino is responsible for leadership and coordination of academic affairs, faculty affairs and faculty development.

Dr. Sonnino’s career has been centered on surgery and pediatrics for more than 30 years. She previously served as professor in the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, chief of Pediatric Surgery, and associate dean for Special Programs and assistant dean for Student Affairs at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She was chief in the Division of Pediatric Surgery and surgeon-in-chief at the Children’s Hospital, Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon. Dr. Sonnino completed the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) fellowship in 1998. She has 12 years’ experience with the Medical College of Virginia/VCU Women in Medicine Pathways to Leadership and the Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (SELAM).

Dr. Sonnino received her M.D. at the University of Padova, Italy (Laurea in Medicine and Surgery). She acquired her postdoctoral training at six hospitals, including general surgery at Henry Ford Hospital and pediatric surgery at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Dr. Sonnino has earned numerous awards, such as the Research Forum Award for the Children’s Hospital Research Foundation in Columbus, OH, the Andreas von Recum Award for Service from the Academy of Surgical Research, and the Italian Pediatric Surgical Association Award.

Dr. Sonnino has served as an officer and committee member for more than 15 professional societies, including president of the Academy of Surgical Research. She currently serves as president-elect of SELAM. Her research career has been focused on ischemic injuries to the intestine, bowel transplants and graft preservation. For the past seven years, her research has been funded by the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. Her accomplishments also include 74 peer-reviewed published articles and 95 national or international presentations.

Cam E. Enarson, M.D., M.B.A., School of Medicine dean and vice president for Health Sciences at Creighton University Medical Center said, “Dr. Sonnino’s experience as a surgeon, in faculty and student affairs, and her leadership roles in academic medicine will greatly benefit Creighton’s School of Medicine.”