On July 1, 2018, Jeffrey Perkins, CPA, CIA, CHFR, MBA, relinquished his roles as chief of staff and associate dean for administration and finance for the School of Medicine to focus his attention on his role as USC associate vice president for business & finance and medical business affairs (AVP).

“Over the past ten years, Jeff has helped establish a stable financial foundation for the School of Medicine,” Dean Hall says. “We are very thankful for his past and continued service.”

Perkins joined the executive team at the USC School of Medicine in 2007. He holds the academic rank of clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.

In his evolving role as USC AVP, Perkins will continue to advise the executive dean and others. He also will serve as an operational finance liaison between the School of Medicine and USC leadership. One of his continued roles will be to work on the new Health and Biosciences Campus.

As a CPA, CIA, and CHFP with an extensive background in healthcare, accounting, operational management and administration, he will work with the USC COO and other members of the University’s administration through and as a member of the Division of Administration and Finance for the University. His formal office will continue to be in Osborne, and he will maintain working offices at the SOM VA Campus and at the Trust. He will administratively report to the USC COO, but will be working directly with the Executive Dean and the Office of the Dean, and SOM faculty on issues important to the School of Medicine.

“Even though I accepted the role of USC AVP during the 2010-2011 academic year, for the most part beyond certain special projects over the past few years, I was still performing my tasks as the chief of staff and the associate dean for administration and finance for the USC School of Medicine Columbia,” says Perkins. “With the recruitment of new finance leadership team members and reorganization and reallocation of work, I am now able to dedicate more of my time to USC global issues.”

Even after this transition period, Perkins will dedicate approximately 15- 20 percent of his time to the USC School of Medicine – Columbia on an ongoing basis. He also will continue to serve as the secretary and treasurer for the USC School of Medicine Educational Trust. 

Based on the recommendation of an advisory committee and a review of his qualifications, Executive Dean Les Hall selected Derek Payne to fill the new position of assistant dean for administration and finance. Payne previously served as the executive director of accounting, budgets and finance for the USC School of Medicine and the USC School of Medicine Educational Trust.

 “I have truly enjoyed working with you all to continue to build and grow the School of Medicine and the USC School of Medicine Educational Trust, and look forward to continuing working together in the future,” says Perkins.