We are pleased to announce that Sarah Cotter, MD, assistant professor of anesthesiology, has been appointed an assistant program director for the Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program, effective immediately.
In this role, Dr. Cotter will serve as an integral part of the residency program’s leadership team, assisting with recruitment, resident advising and mentoring, and enhancement of the clinical and educational environment of the program.
"I returned to Duke in February and am thrilled to be home. My commitment to this program stems from a deep sense of gratitude for having been taught here by people who, in my estimation, are the best physicians and colleagues our specialty has to offer," says Dr. Cotter. "While our field faces challenges, we (and Duke in particular) are well poised to continue to lead the way in education, innovation and research. This starts with our residents, and I’m excited to be able to support them in all the ways that I can."
As a Duke University graduate (class of 2010) and a Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program alumna, Dr. Cotter brings a wealth of firsthand experience and understanding of our program's curriculum and values, and our department's and institution's commitment to excellence. She received her medical degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2015 and returned to Duke to complete an anesthesiology residency in which she served as a chief resident. That same year, she was selected to participate in the Feagin Leadership Program, designed to foster the development and training of future academic leaders. Dr. Cotter went on to complete an adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston where she stayed as an instructor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine for one year. She then joined faculty at the University of California at San Francisco as an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care.
Since returning to Duke as anesthesiology faculty early last year, Dr. Cotter has taken on the role as director of the cardiac resident rotation and serves as the point person for CA1s - CA3s in our cardiothoracic operating rooms. Taking charge of this critical responsibility, she is one of the primary liaisons for our residents and helps ensure seamless coordination of their training. Moreover, Dr. Cotter actively collaborates with our fellowship leadership to define clear goals and objectives for our residents, overseeing monthly evaluations to ensure their continued growth and advancement. Her educational contributions include resident lectures and simulation sessions, abstract reviews for subspecialty (ISHLT, SCA) conferences, an intraoperative decision-making TEE guide, and ABA BASIC Exam question writing. She also serves as a medical school admissions screener and Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Workshop instructor. Later this year, she will take part in our department's Academy for Building Leadership Excellence (ABLE) Program (innovation track), with a focus on using technology to improve patient outcomes and culture in our ORs.
Dr. Cotter will assume the position of assistant director of the residency program (alongside Dr. Angela Pollak), replacing Dr. Brian Colin, whom we are grateful for serving in this capacity since 2013.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Cotter on her new role and welcoming her to the residency leadership team (and back to Duke).