Dan Culica, MD, PhD
Senior Research Scientist

Senior Research Scientist Dan Culica earned his M.D. from the University of Bucharest in Romania, his Master’s in Health Services Management from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and his Ph.D. in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Iowa in the USA.

A former surgeon specializing in vascular surgery, Dan built a career in health services research and public health policy. As an academic, Dan accumulated expertise in medical care organization with emphasis on health care outcomes for quality improvement and organizational performance. He made documented contributions to community health through research, health care interventions, needs assessment, and program evaluations, specifically in domains of trauma care organization, emergency department access, and quality of chronic disease health care. Dan’s strong leadership and project management abilities coupled with outstanding interpersonal relations are reflected in productive team work and mentoring skills.

Dan was appointed to CRSTI as the Dr. Bob and Jean Smith Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Research. His main role will be to coordinate the entire array of research activity envisioned by the Board of Directors. This will include participation in the Medical Advisory Board and close collaboration with the Executive Director for planning the research agenda of the Institute.

He will work with the entire CRSTI staff and affiliated medical personnel on diverse projects with responsibility for developing the research expertise and productivity of the Institute. In this capacity Dan will oversee clinical activities, participate in the data management and assist in the selection and approval of projects. He will also collaborate in the conduct of analyses on initiated investigations, and formulate reports for funded studies and produce articles for publication in peer reviewed specialty journals.