The Board of Trustees has approved the appointments of Darren Woodside, PhD, as the new Vice President for Research and Jennifer Chambers, RN, BSN, CCRC, to serve as the Office of Research Administration (ORA) Director.

Texas Heart Institute’s ORA Vice President, Mike McGee announced his plans to retire at the end of April. McGee joined the team in 1978 as a biomedical engineer and worked on the development, experimental testing, and initial clinical applications of ventricular assist systems, artificial hearts, and other innovative medical devices throughout his tenure. He has provided immeasurable guidance and leadership to the THI staff, Professional Staff, and collaborators and facilitated partnerships throughout the world for over forty years.

Dr. Woodside joined THI in 2008 and has served most recently as Associate Director of the Molecular Cardiology Research Laboratories. Ms. Chambers came to THI from St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in 2000 as a Research Coordinator; later in her career, she returned to THI and held leadership positions as Assistant Director of THI’s Stem Cell Center and, most recently, as Administrative Director of THI’s Center for Clinical Research, which she helped launch.