Marian Safaoui

Marian Safaoui, MD, is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Anatomy and Director of the Office of Career and Professional Development at Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP), where she has served since 2009. She specializes in residency counseling, board exam preparation, and academic support for high-risk students. Her academic roles include teaching anatomy and surgery, alongside leadership in student development initiatives.

Dr. Safaoui holds an MD from the University of Southern California (1997–99) and a BS in Kinesiology from UCLA (1986–91). Her surgical training includes residencies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Martin Luther King, Jr./Charles R. Drew Medical Center. She has been recognized with awards such as the Dean’s Award for Faculty Excellence (2019) and the Defense Health Agency Certificate of Appreciation (2018).

Her research focuses on medical education innovation, including hyper-realistic surgical training environments and their impact on student resilience and performance. She collaborates on projects analyzing residency matching trends and trauma training for military personnel. Her work bridges clinical expertise with educational strategies to enhance medical student outcomes.

Dr. Safaoui is a member of professional organizations including the American Association of Clinical Anatomists, Association of Women Surgeons, and American College of Surgeons. Her contributions extend to advancing trauma surgery practices and advocating for student well-being through resilience-building initiatives.