Our Team

Dr. Mounir Soliman is assistant vice chancellor and executive director for Health Sciences International at UC San Diego. In his role, he provides the overall leadership and strategic direction for the development of programs for Health Sciences International. He works closely with the senior leadership to align the international service lines with UC San Diego Health’s core mission. He is instrumental in advocating and promoting leading-edge research, advanced education and innovative clinical programs.

Dr. Soliman is well known for his expertise in the development of innovative and economically based health sciences campuses. He has led UC San Diego Health Sciences’ effort in the establishment of strategic alliances with global government and non-government organizations for the development of schools of medicine, schools of pharmacy, university teaching hospitals, biomedical research and research parks. Specifically, Dr. Soliman led the UC San Diego effort for planning and development of the collaborative partnership with Perdana University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for their graduate medical education program, teaching hospital and biomedical research.

Additionally, Dr. Soliman is a clinical professor of psychiatry. His research primarily focuses on treatment-resistant mood disorders and the application of non-psychopharmacological approaches such as Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).

Previously, Dr. Soliman served as chief of clinical services for the Department of Psychiatry, where he provided both clinical and administrative leadership for inpatient, outpatient and specialty programs. He worked to improve access to services, safety, quality and patient satisfaction, which led, in part, to the advancement of the Department of Psychiatry internationally.

Dr. Soliman is also an expert in developing elite wellness programs tailored to executives. These programs have been featured in Forbes, the San Diego Business Journal, Men’s Health, Best Life and the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Dr. Soliman joined the UC San Diego faculty in 1998 after completing his postgraduate training in the Department of Psychiatry. In addition to his medical degree, he also holds an MBA in health care from the Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine.

A member of the UC San Diego Medical Board of Governors and the UC San Diego Professional Standards Committee, he is also a member of the Steering Committee for Global Health Initiatives and serves on the Springboard Panel for the CONNECT Program. Nationally, Dr. Soliman serves as an external reviewer for AAMC Medical Education and a consultant to the Council on International Psychiatry for American Psychiatric Association.

Maureen A. Curran, MS is the Director of Administration and International Business Development for UCSD Health Sciences International (UCSD HSI). She is responsible for creating, maintaining and enhancing UC San Diego Health Sciences' International (HSI) services by fostering worldwide partner relationships. She also oversees administration and program implementation for collaborative partnerships such as establishment of College of Medicine and Health Sciences projects.

Ms. Curran is a results-oriented leader with extensive experience in academic medical center program development with special expertise in research, education and clinical programs. Prior to her role at UCSD HSI, Ms. Curran was the Executive Director of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and the Stein Institute for Research on Aging. Ms. Curran oversaw the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry's NIH-supported Center of Excellence. She was also responsible for the development and administration of the multiple training programs local, national and international in scope. In her role at the Stein Institute for Research on Aging, Ms. Curran was responsible for the development and oversight of studies related to successful aging.

Ms. Curran also previously held the title of Education Program Director for UCSD’s Clinical and Translational Science Award. In that role she oversaw a variety of training programs related to improving the education and training of researchers ranging from high school and medical school students to postdoctoral fellows to faculty members to citizens of the broader community. Ms. Curran has been engaged in community activities including serving as a member of the Board for several organizations – she is presently President of the Board for both the Alumni Club of the University of Southern California in San Diego and for the Lily Brentano Foundation (a private scholarship granting foundation).

Ms. Curran received her graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. She completed a health policy fellowship at the United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging before joining UCSD.

Johanne Gnagne, M.sc. is the Project Manager, Clinical services for the UCSD Health Sciences International (UCSD HSI). She is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and managing Health Sciences projects with UCSD Partners. She also oversees all fiscal operations including forecasting, developing and revising budgets, and authorizing expenditures for UCSD HSI.

Ms. Gnagne is a results-driven and detailed oriented Project Manager with several years of experience in Clinical services Project and Program Management. Prior to joining UCSD HSI, Ms. Gnagne held the title of Project Manager for the Ministry of Health in Canada. In that role, she managed and directed the planning, implementation and delivery of primary health care services in 25 health centers and clinics by collaborating with federal government agency and community key stakeholders.

Ms. Gnagne was engaged in communities’ activities as the Executive Board Member for a Non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the economic development of Francophone communities and later on as CoChair Wellness Committee and Chair Diversity Committee at the Ministry of Health Canada.

Ms. Gnagne received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Major in Finance from the Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM), Canada. She then received her Master in International Business from Universite de Sherbrooke, Canada and School of Business and Management (ESCEM) in Poitiers, France.

Melanie A. Crane, MA. is the Program Manager for all Operations within UCSD HSI. In this role, Mrs. Crane is responsible for the long-range planning, development of policies and procedures, as well as negotiation of overall HSI resources in all aspects of the Department’s operational management.

Mrs. Crane oversees and evaluates academic and staff human resources, subcontracts, equipment management, space and facilities, as well as conference and program development within the Department. She is responsible for creating, maintaining and enhancing UCSD HSI’s services by fostering worldwide partner relationships in the areas of clinical medicine, medical education and biomedical research.

Having worked closely with UCSD HSI’s Assistant Vice Chancellor and Executive Director in this capacity since January 2011– Mrs. Crane's role in long-term Department planning also positions her as the active conduit for the UCSD HSI’s interactions with the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), Vice Chancellors, campus-wide Departments, the UC San Diego Health and all external entities for international collaborative partnerships.

Previous to her position within HSI, Mrs. Crane also held the position as Clinical Services Program Manager for UCSD’s Department of Psychiatry, within the Office of Clinical Affairs. Prior to her roles at UCSD, Mrs. Crane's work was focused in clinical education, research and development as a Program Supervisor for one of Southern California’s largest Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) service providers for children on the Autism Spectrum; both teaching and evaluating therapeutic methodologies for impacted families and communities.

Melanie Crane received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara - where she facilitated research projects in Cultural Psychology. She then received her Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University – in Malibu, CA. Mrs. Crane was nominated in the annual UC San Diego Vice Chancellor Health Sciences Ceremony – having earned the 2012-2013 Manager & Supervisor Award as Program Manager of Operations for UCSD HSI.