Please join us in expressing our sincere gratitude to Madhav Swaminathan, MD, MMCi, FASE, for his 24 years of dedication, service and leadership to Duke and extending him our best wishes in his new position as chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, effective August 15. We are currently in the process of conducting a national search for his position as vice chair for faculty affairs in which he has played a pivotal role in nurturing our faculty with the vision, mentorship, opportunities, and infrastructure essential for becoming leaders in our field.
"When I joined Duke Anesthesiology 24 years ago, I could not have imagined the incredible journey ahead. This department has been more than just a workplace; it's been a second family," says Dr. Swaminathan, professor of anesthesiology. "I have had the honor and privilege of being mentored by the finest academic anesthesiologists in the field, to whom I owe a great deal. I have also had the honor of teaching the brightest trainees in the country, who have gone on to lead change in our specialty around the world. As I transition to Wake Forest University, I carry with me the invaluable experiences and friendships made here. While it's bittersweet to leave, I am excited about the new opportunities ahead. I am confident that Duke Anesthesiology will continue to thrive and reach new heights. Thank you, Duke Anesthesiology, for 24 amazing years. I am profoundly grateful to each of you."
Dr. Swaminathan obtained his medical degree from Delhi University in India, where he completed his anesthesiology residency and a subsequent cardiac anesthesiology residency at the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center. He then pursued fellowships in anesthesiology and cardiac anesthesiology at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium and Queens University of Belfast in the United Kingdom. Dr. Swaminathan arrived at Duke in 2000 as a cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellow and quickly rose through the ranks upon completion of training.
He joined the department as faculty in 2002 and developed his research interests in perioperative echocardiography and cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury, for which he has numerous funded projects. Two years later, Dr. Swaminathan assumed a leadership role as the director of perioperative echocardiography services at Duke where he revolutionized the institution's echocardiography research, spearheaded new educational initiatives in echo, and unified practitioners of cardiovascular ultrasound. He served in this role until 2014 when he was named the clinical director of cardiothoracic anesthesiology and critical care and the assistant OR director. Prior to his appointment in 2018 as vice chair for faculty affairs, he held the role of co-director for the perioperative optimization strategy. His tenure as vice chair has been marked by notable faculty development programs such as the Academy for Building Leadership Excellence program, which has helped 36 faculty members advance their careers and continues to be a valuable leadership pipeline for the department. Additionally, he has authored more than 200 publications and numerous abstracts and book chapters, and he is the co-editor of the popular textbook, Clinical Manual and Review of Transesophageal Echocardiography.
During his time at Duke, Dr. Swaminathan has notably earned several historic appointments. He was the first anesthesiologist selected to deliver the prestigious Feigenbaum Lecture at the American Society of Echocardiography's (ASE) Scientific Sessions in 2015 and the Edler Lecture in 2021. In another historic moment in 2019, Dr. Swaminathan took the helm as president of ASE – marking the first time that an anesthesiologist was elected to head ASE in its 44-year history.
Among his many accolades over the course of his career, last year, Dr. Swaminathan became the third Duke Anesthesiology faculty to receive ASE’s Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Echocardiography Award, which recognizes his achievement of significant clinical, research and/or education in the field of perioperative echocardiography. And just this year, the Duke University School of Medicine selected him as the recipient of the Master Clinician/Teacher Award, recognizing his superlative accomplishment in teaching and/or clinical care and his extraordinary commitment “above and beyond” normal expectations.
Reflecting his commitment beyond the field of anesthesiology, Dr. Swaminathan has actively contributed to various organizations and initiatives that advocate for individuals with disabilities and promote health care advancements, such as the Arc of the Triangle, the Autism Society of North Carolina and the Special Olympics of North Carolina. Within Duke, he served as a member of the External Advisory Board at the institution's Center for Autism and Brain Development from 2017 to 2023, and he remains deeply involved with leading the neurodiversity initiative throughout the institution, helping to create a more inclusive environment for neurodiverse individuals. His efforts in this area were recognized with the 2013 MLK Community Award nomination and appointment by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities in 2024.
Dr. Swaminathan's last day at Duke will be August 7. On behalf of our department, please join us in thanking him for his exceptional service, leadership and mentorship as vice chair and wishing him our warmest regards in the next phase of his remarkable career.
