Julie Palmer Named Director of Slone Epidemiology Center

David W. Kaufman, ScD, Professor of Epidemiology, has decided to step down as Director of the Slone Epidemiology Center, effective June 30. Julie R. Palmer, ScD, Karin Grunebaum Professor in Cancer Research and Associate Director of Slone, will become the next Director.

Slone is a Medical Campus epidemiology research center, founded in 1975. Its initial focus on medication use in relation to cancer, heart disease, birth defects and rare drug-induced conditions has, over the years, been expanded to include behavioral, psychosocial, socioeconomic, environmental and genetic factors. Current major programs include the Black Women’s Health Study, infant care practice studies and pharmacoepidemiologic studies of birth defects. In keeping with its multidisciplinary approach, Slone faculty have appointments at BUSPH Department of Epidemiology, BUSM Department of Medicine (Sections of Hematology/Oncology and Preventive Medicine) and BUSM Department of Pediatrics. There is also a close collaboration with the BU/BMC Cancer Center, of which Dr. Palmer is Co-Director.

After many years in office space near the Charles River Campus, Slone moved to the Medical Campus in 2017. Dr. Kaufman has spent his entire career at the Center and its forebears; he assumed the Directorship in 2016 and was instrumental in overseeing the successful transition to its current location on L-7. After stepping down, he will continue with a reduced schedule of research activities at Slone and in his role as Chair of the BUMC IRB Panel Orange.

Dr. Palmer joined Slone and the faculty of the Department of Epidemiology after receiving her doctorate from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 1988. Her research program focuses on cancer health disparities and includes collaborations with investigators across BUMC. She is currently the Karin Grunebaum Professor in Cancer Research, with a primary faculty appointment in the Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Section.