Dr. Pamela Schaff

Biography

Pamela Schaff is a Professor at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, specializing in Clinical Medical Education, Family Medicine, and Pediatrics. She directs the Humanities, Ethics, Art, Law (HEAL) Program and the Master of Science in Narrative Medicine Program. In addition to maintaining a clinical pediatric practice, she has held key administrative roles including director of the Introduction to Clinical Medicine Program and associate dean of curriculum at the school. Dr. Schaff is a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Humanities Arts Integration Committee, focusing on incorporating the humanities and arts into medical education to enhance physician development. She earned her PhD in literature with a concentration in creative writing from USC. Dr. Schaff designs curricula that merge arts and humanities instruction within the medical school’s four-year curriculum and has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching and mentoring. Her current research interests include professional identity formation, narrative medicine, and the role of the arts and humanities in medical education.

Research Interests