Description
Tamara is an ascending surgeon and leader at the LAC+USC Medical Center and the Keck School of Medicine. In addition to her role as the Chief Medical Director of Otolarynology-Head & Neck Surgery, Speech & Audiology, Tamara also serves as the Assistant Designated Institutional Official for Safety, Fairness, and Equity (SAFE), the Associate Director of Perioperative Services and the Associate Program Director for Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. More recently, she has been named the Associate Medical Director for Clinical Efficiency at LAC+USC Medical Center. Only 7 years from starting on both campuses as a junior faculty member, Tamara shares stories of growth, and humility, ultimately finding her voice as a thriving leader on the LAC+USC and Keck School of Medicine campuses.
Tamara actually began her career in medicine involved with USC’s Med-Cor program, and later as a Bravo Medical Magnet High School Student. From there, she attended Stanford University, and received her Medical Degree from the Drew/UCLA Medical Program. She started her intern year in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at LAC+USC/Keck School of Medicine in 2006, leaving for a year to complete a fellowship in Microvascular Reconstruction and Endocrine Surgery at Loma Linda University. She returned in the Fall of 2012, and is steadfast in what it means to be a USC Trojan.
As one of the few African-American female surgeons on the LAC+USC Medical Center and Keck School of Medicine campuses, Tamara offers a unique perspective to finding her place in the operating room and in the C-suite. Constantly focused on improving the care of the underserved and those that deliver care to them, Tamara offers helpful lessons that can be translated to the career of any budding leader.
