Dr. Carl Garrubba Named Dean of School of Health and Natural Sciences

Dr. Carl Garrubba has been appointed dean of Dominican University of California’s School of Health and Natural Sciences (HNS). He brings to the position a strong background in strategic financial and budgetary planning, as well as leadership roles in both higher education management and healthcare. For the past five years, Dr. Garrubba has been an integral part of Dominican’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. 

“Dr. Carl Garrubba has an uncommon background in business, administration, healthcare, and academia that indicates his being uniquely qualified for this dean’s position,” said Dr. Mojgan Behmand, Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of the Faculty. “He has demonstrated extensive management skills and accreditation experience.”

Dr. Garrubba’s appointment begins July 1, 2022. Dr. Ruth Ramsey has served as HNS dean since 2017. She is retiring this month after 26 years of service to Dominican.

“I am humbled and honored to be accepting this appointment of dean of Health and Natural Sciences,” Dr. Garrubba said. “I look forward to furthering the excellent work that dean Ramsey has completed during her tenure and uncovering new opportunities to advance HNS and the University.”

Dr. Garrubba will oversee undergraduate programs in biological sciences, chemistry & biochemistry, global public health, health science/pre-occupational therapy, mathematics, and nursing. Graduate programs include the Master of Science in Biological Sciences program offered in partnership with BioMarin and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, counseling psychology, physician assistant studies, and occupational therapy. Dominican will begin offering a Doctor of Occupational Therapy program in fall 2023.

Dr. Garrubba joined Dominican’s physician assistant program in 2017 as professor and associate director, both teaching and supervising all aspects of the program’s admissions process. In 2019 he was named program director and, in 2020, was promoted to chair. 

Dr. Garrubba has been a certified physician assistant for 27 years and served on the national Physician Assistant Education Association Board for the past eight years. Before joining Dominican, Dr. Garrubba was director of the physician assistant program at Chatham University. He has worked as a physician assistant at both the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Pittsburgh. His clinical experience at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) included thoracic surgery and HIV medicine and research. While working at UPMC, Dr. Garrubba was named co-investigator on several HIV clinical trials.

Before embarking on a career as a physician assistant, Dr. Garrubba was a financial analyst and a certified public accountant, working for four years as an auditor and tax accountant at Arthur Andersen, followed by four years as a financial analyst in the Office of Budget and Financial Planning at UPMC.

“Dr. Garrubba has ensured that planning and decision-making are inclusive, transparent, and student-centered, while creating a warm and stable environment for staff, faculty, and students. Mentoring and developing employees while considering diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount to a successful program and correlate directly with Dominican’s mission,” Dr. Behmand said.

Dr. Garrubba earned a Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Duquesne University. He received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Duquesne in 1986 and his certified public accountant license in 1988.