The Emory University Division of Advancement and Alumni Engagement (AAE) has appointed Margaret Fala as assistant vice president for advancement, clinical/grateful patient programs and medical research.

In her new role, Fala will provide leadership and strategic direction for fundraising and constituent engagement efforts. She will plan and coordinate fundraising activities focusing on Emory’s research and patient care programs including Emory’s Brain Health Center, clinical and hospital programs, discovery programs and partnerships, Winship Cancer Institute and Yerkes National Primate Research Center.

Fala joins Emory with 18 years of development experience, most recently as assistant vice president in the Office of Institutional Advancement for Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health in Philadelphia. While at Jefferson, she oversaw fundraising for multiple clinical service lines in the Department of Medicine and raised more than $56 million.

Prior to her tenure at Jefferson, Fala served as director of development for Holy Redeemer Health System in Pennsylvania. She began her fundraising career at SERV Behavioral Health System in New Jersey, where she directed the day-to-day management, operation, and strategic direction of a comprehensive fundraising and marketing program for a $28 million behavioral health care organization.

Fala holds a bachelor of music in music therapy from Temple University, a master of business administration in marketing from Villanova University, and a master of arts in counseling psychology from Rosemont College. She brings proven leadership and management experience to AAE and Emory, along with a passion for supporting patients and families as they experience some of the most vulnerable and challenging moments in their lives.