Donna Elliott, MD '82

Dr. Donna Elliott

Donna Elliott, MD '82 is Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.  A native of Los Angeles, this former Salerni Collegium scholarship recipient and current Salerni Collegium member continues to give back to the community she grew up in.

Elliott is a Trojan through and through, having received four degrees from USC.  She earned her B.S. in Biology in 1978, her M.D. in 1982, her M.S. in Medical Education in 1996, and her Ed.D. in Medical Education in 2006.  She completed her residency in Pediatrics at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center.  Additionally, she completed fellowships in Pediatric Nephrology and Educational Leadership. Her research interests are in the area of the design and evaluation of cultural competence educational methodologies for medical students, residents and practicing physicians with the goal of reducing health care disparities. 

A strong force in helping shape medical education at the Keck School, Elliott has played an integral role in the many strides forward it has made.  She sits on numerous committees including Curriculum, Education Policy, and Scholarship.  She has been involved at the University level as well, formerly on the Alumni Board of Governors and chair of the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Work and family Life.

An expert in medical education, Elliott was recently named national chair for the Group on Educational Affairs, Undergraduate Medical Education Section. "I'm personally honored to serve as national chair and help guide the AAMC national agenda for undergraduate medical education,” Elliott said.  “My interests include the interface of curriculum and career advising in the senior year of medical school, as well as the integration of undergraduate and graduate medical education as a continuum."

Numerous other honors and awards have flowed her way including five Outstanding Teaching awards and a Mellon Excellence in Mentoring award.  She was a Master Teacher in 2007 and is currently a Faculty Fellow, Center for Excellence in Teaching. When speaking to our doctors of the future, she advises that they must have a passion for medicine and a deep commitment to becoming an M.D.

Elliott and her husband Michael Mills have two children who are both undergraduates at USC.  In thinking back on her years in medical school, she recalls many adventures in the county hospital and her gross anatomy study groups, as well as her great roommates and 1982 classmates Raquel Arias, M.D. and Lan Hodges, M.D.

The ability to offer financial support enables the Keck School of Medicine of USC to compete with the country’s finest medical schools in attracting the very best students. The Keck School of Medicine of USC depends on the generosity of friends, supporters and alumni to allow us to offer the best possible merit and need based scholarships.