Sotto moves to Pittsburgh for Associate Vice Chancellor role

Sylk Sotto, MBA, MPS, EDD – the department’s inaugural Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development and Vice Chair for Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion – departed IU School of Medicine in the spring to join the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences as Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Development and Inclusive Excellence.

Sotto joined the department in 2015 as a lecturer but quickly and impressively rose through the ranks to assume her vice chair roles, where she made an immeasurable impact.

She helped to change the culture within the Department of Medicine by implementing a variety of new programs, building essential relationships across the school and beyond, and holding department leaders accountable to diversity and equity goals, said Chair David Aronoff, MD.

“While I am saddened by this loss to our leadership team, I am incredibly grateful for all Dr. Sotto has done to improve the culture within the Department of Medicine. I wish her the best of luck in the future, and I know she will go on to make amazing contributions at the University of Pittsburgh,” he said.

Chemen Neal, MD, the inaugural IU School of Medicine Executive Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice and Chief Diversity Officer, congratulated Sotto on the new position.

“Her attainment of this high-level position properly recognizes her accomplishments and respect as a national leader. She has made a tremendous impact within our institution, and I know she will transform the University of Pittsburg,” Neal said.

Following Sotto’s departure, department leadership elected to split the role into two positions: the Vice Chair for Strategic Engagement and the Vice Chair of Faculty Development.

Sacha Sharp, PhD, was appointed Vice Chair for Strategic Engagement and Director of Medical Education Innovation in July; Cynthia Brown, MD, became Vice Chair of Faculty Development in September.

Casey recognized with alumni award

Tara Casey, MHA, the Associate Vice Chair for Operations in the Department of Medicine, was given the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health’s Early Careerist Award.

According to the school’s website, the Early Careerist Award is presented to an alumna or alumnus who earned their degree within the past 15 years and has distinguished themselves in their careers or in service to the Fairbanks School of Public Health or the university.

Casey graduated from IU in Bloomington with a degree in public health before pursuing a master’s in health administration from the Fairbanks School of Public Health.

She started her career as a healthcare administrator in 2010 with the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. She climbed through the ranks at the VA, departing in 2017 as Group Practice Manager of Ambulatory Care. She then joined the Department of Medicine and worked as a Service Line Administrator of Hospitalists for three years. In 2020, she stepped into her current role as Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Operations, where she is responsible for leading and administering the clinical operations of the department. Away from work, she serves on the Brownsburg Education Foundation Board and on the IU Fairbanks School of Public Health Alumni Board.

Casey is also an Army Veteran. She coordinated logistics during Operation Iraqi Freedom.