Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, has named Dr. Christian Larsen as its dean, effective Jan. 15.

He will also step into the role of VP for health center integration for the Woodruff Health Sciences Center as well as chairman of the Emory Clinic, according to a news release.

Larsen replaces Dr. Thomas Lawley, who is retiring as dean after 16 years and will remain on the medical faculty.

A specialist in transplant surgery and immunology, Larsen currently chairs Emory’s department of surgery and is the executive director of the Emory Transplant Center, which he helped found in 2001.