We are pleased to announce that Brandi Bottiger, MD, has been appointed as our department's residency program director, effective May 1. She succeeds Dr. Annemarie Thompson, who was appointed Duke Anesthesiology's vice chair for education in April.
Dr. Bottiger, associate professor of anesthesiology and Duke Anesthesiology alumnus, brings nearly 14 years of experience to her new role in which she will lead and mentor approximately 60 interns and residents in the Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program — a nationally acclaimed program that was once again ranked in 2024 among the top five (#5) residency programs (by reputation) in our specialty, nationwide. As the residency program director, Dr. Bottiger will assume primary responsibility for recruitment and training of the next generation of leaders in education, research and clinical care in anesthesiology. She is a visionary leader who will continue to advance the innovative, clinically rigorous, and supportive program through robust mentorship and unparalleled clinical and educational experiences.
"I am truly excited for the opportunity to lead this group of young, bright physicians who shape our identity as a department and community. I look forward to working collaboratively with the residents, department, institution, and our leadership to further drive excellence and growth in our anesthesiology residency program," says Dr. Bottiger. "Together, we will advance the field of anesthesiology and enhance the perioperative experience for patients and their families."
Dr. Bottiger obtained her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University where she went on to complete an anesthesiology residency. In 2010, she arrived at Duke where she graduated from the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (ACTA) Fellowship. The following year, she joined Duke Anesthesiology faculty and was appointed director of resident education for the Cardiothoracic (CT) Anesthesiology Division. Her dedication to teaching excellence was recognized with teaching awards in 2013 and 2016.
After three years serving as the associate program director for the ACTA Fellowship, Dr. Bottiger was appointed its director in 2016. She led programmatic efforts to recruit, train and retain eight classes of ACTA fellows, shaping one of the largest, most esteemed and competitive fellowships in the nation. By partnering with leaders in the CT division and department, Dr. Bottiger created leadership teams of faculty and fellows, advancing the model of academic mentorship for fellows to advance research, quality improvement and education initiatives that have resulted in multiple fellow and faculty awards over the years.
Dr. Bottiger's academic interest in outcomes improvement post-lung transplantation progressed to an appointment in 2019 as medical director of transplant quality improvement within the Duke University Health System, becoming the first anesthesiologist to hold a medical directorship position within the transplant center. As part of the department's Patient Safety and Quality Committee initiative, she helped develop clinical protocols and monitoring capabilities, leading to the creation of a dashboard in partnership with hospital, surgical and medical leadership. Furthermore, Dr. Bottiger maintains active involvement on a national level with the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), and currently serves as co-director for the SCA's resident and fellow programs, among other positions.
We would like to express our appreciation to the 11-member search committee for their collective time, efforts and contributions to the search process and selection of Dr. Bottiger as the residency program director — an important task that helps ensure the development of our trainees and the future success of our department. The search committee was chaired by Dr. Padma Gulur and comprised of the following members of our department: Drs. Chakib Ayoub, Sarah Cotter, Michael Cutrone, Adjoa Boateng Evans, Nicole Guinn, Eric JohnBull, Russell-John Krom, Angela Pollak, Jamie Privratsky, and Annemarie Thompson.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Thompson for serving in this role for nearly 11 years and setting a standard of excellence that will resonate for years to come.
Please join us in extending Dr. Bottiger congratulations on her new leadership role in our department. We are excited about the positive impact that Dr. Bottiger will undoubtedly have in advancing the education and training of the next generation of leaders in our field, ultimately enhancing patient care.