Margaret C. McDonald, PhD, MFA

Margaret C. McDonald, PhD, MFA, is associate vice chancellor for academic and global affairs, health sciences. In this capacity, she coordinates the development and support of research, educational, and public affairs initiatives within the health sciences schools and between the health sciences and other University units; provides expert support to University executive staff; and promotes and implements health-related collaborative relationships with academic institutions in other countries. Dr. McDonald has been a member of the project development team for initiatives in Sapporo, Japan (residency program in general internal medicine); Palermo, Italy (fellowship training for Ri.MED Foundation scientists); Erzurum, Turkey (School of Medicine curriculum needs assessment); Cairo, Egypt (maternal and child health in rural areas);  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (health sciences curriculum consultation for Princess Noura University); and Astana, Kazakhstan (development of a new medical school at Nazarbayev University), as well as academic collaborations with universities and hospitals in Sao Paolo, Brazil; Manila, Philippines; Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Changsha, China; Danang, Vietnam; and Hyderabad, India, among others. 

Dr. McDonald collaborates closely with UPMC International to leverage partnerships of mutual benefit to both entities. She also regularly convenes the global health representatives from the six health sciences schools to initiate and respond to a broad range of opportunities and to leverage existing expertise into a strong Health Sciences Global Affairs team. On the academic affairs side, Dr. McDonald and her team routinely organize and implement academic and research-based activities and events designed to advance research, collaboration, and innovation within and beyond the health sciences schools.

Dr. McDonald is associate professor of epidemiology in the Graduate School of Public Health and associate professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine. Her research interests include health and risk communication and the global burden of psychiatric illness.

Dr. McDonald received her BA in English and drama from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her MFA from Antioch University, and her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.  Before coming to the University of Pittsburgh in 1983, Dr. McDonald had a successful career as a science and medical journalist. At Pitt, Dr. McDonald has held a number of positions of increasing responsibility.