Meet our Leadership Team

The department is structured in 9 units rolling up to a central administrative team.

Administrative Leadership

Ann B. Nattinger, MD, MPH

Associate Provost for Research; Senior Associate Dean for Research, School of Medicine; Professor of Medicine, Lady Riders Professor of Breast Cancer Research; Principal Investigator, CHDS

Dr. Nattinger is a nationally recognized breast cancer health services researcher. She studies variations in cancer treatment and follow-up care, disparities in care by race and socioeconomic status, and cancer survivorship issues. Her work, funded mostly by the National Cancer Institute, has been published in leading journals, such as New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, and JAMA.

Cecilia J. Hillard, PhD

Associate Dean for Research; Professor; Director, Neuroscience Research Center; G. Frederick Kasten, Jr. Endowed Chair in Parkinson’s Disease Research

Dr. Hillard was named Associate Dean for Research in November 2015 after serving eight months as co-Interim Senior Associate Dean for Research. She has served as director of the Neuroscience Research Center since its inception in 2010. She was also Inaugural Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Training Program from 1996-2010. As a highly active researcher, Dr. Hillard’s laboratory is primarily focused on the pharmacology and biochemistry of the cannabinoids and endocannabinoids.

Marja T. Nevalainen, MD, PhD

WBCS Endowed Professor of Prostate Cancer Research, Department of Pathology and Pharmacology & Toxicology; Assistant Dean of Research, Medical College of Wisconsin; Director, Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence at Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center

Dr. Nevalainen is an internationally recognized leader in the field of cytokine and steroid hormone signaling in prostate cancer. Dr. Nevalainen holds the title of Eminent Scholar at MCW. She is also Director of Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence at MCW Cancer Center, which is a multi-disciplinary hub for prostate cancer research within the institution with an international collaborative network. She also serves as Associate Director of Education for the MCW Cancer Center.

Lisa R. Henk, MS

Assistant Dean for Research Operations

Prior to joining the Office of Research leadership team as Chief Administrator for Research Operations, Lisa served a dual role as Administrator for the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the Neurosciences Research Center. Lisa has held a prevalent role in Basic Science Administration at MCW since 2008. As Chief Administrator, Lisa provides operational leadership for Office of Research functions.