We are pleased to announce that after serving in an interim capacity for nearly nine months, Annemarie Thompson, MD, FAHA, MBA (May '24), has been formally appointed as our department's vice chair for education, effective immediately, while continuing her current role as director of our Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program.
Dr. Thompson, professor of anesthesiology, medicine and population health sciences, brings 19 years of experience to her new vice chair role in which she aims to implement a comprehensive educational strategy that targets the needs of a diverse group: pre-medical students, medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians. Her broad vision for education encompasses curriculum enhancement, amplifying interdisciplinary collaboration, implementing robust mentorship programs, expanding global outreach, and advancing research in education.
"I am excited for the opportunity to work with our outstanding educational leadership to shape the future of medical education through innovation and enhancement of the educational experiences for faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students," says Dr. Thompson. "I believe that a robust educational framework is essential to producing and sustaining well-rounded health care professionals who are not only clinically proficient but also deeply compassionate and committed to the highest standards of patient care."
Dr. Thompson received her undergraduate and medical degree from Duke University before completing residency training in both internal medicine and anesthesiology at the University of California, San Francisco. She went on to complete a fellowship in both adult and pediatric cardiothoracic anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University, where she remained on faculty as director of the Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship for eight years, earning initial and continuing ACGME accreditation under her direction. Additionally, she served as the medical director of the Vanderbilt Preoperative Evaluation Center for more than a decade and was tasked with leading a committee to develop a departmental clinical strategic plan in 2009, leading to a recommendation and plan for broader engagement through a perioperative medicine approach to patient care.
In 2014, Dr. Thompson joined Duke Anesthesiology faculty as director of the residency program, a nationally-acclaimed training program in which she leads and mentors approximately 60 interns and residents; and for the past decade, she has been an integral part of the department's overall success in graduate medical education and leading the next generation. While serving as residency director, Dr. Thompson has implemented innovative teaching methods, curriculum enhancements, and mentorship programs that have significantly elevated the program's national ranking and reputation. Under her leadership, the anesthesiology residency has maintained a "top five" reputation nationwide, despite having the smallest residency in the top 10 programs. Her contributions to our residency program have been invaluable, as she has consistently exhibited a passion for fostering a supportive learning environment and cultivating the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the field.
Nationally, Dr. Thompson is in her second term on the Board of Directors for the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists and has served as chair of the Perioperative Education Track for the American Society of Anesthesiologists. She has served numerous roles in both education and leadership at the national level. She maintains an active role in perioperative population health having co-authored several multidisciplinary guidelines in perioperative medicine, including the upcoming 2024 ACC/AHA Perioperative Guideline, and is a fellow of the American Heart Society. She also currently serves as a senior oral board examiner and an ACTA MOCA question author and reviewer for the American Board of Anesthesiology.
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. Thompson as the vice chair for education - an important task that helps ensure the future success of both the education domain and the department. The search committee was chaired by Dr. Vijay Krishnamoorthy and comprised of members of our department (Drs. Nicole Guinn, Padma Gulur, Ashraf Habib, Eric JohnBull, Grace McCarthy, Timothy Miller, Angela Pollak, Jamie Privratsky, Miriam Treggiari, and Dana Rawls).
Please join us in thanking Dr. Thompson for her service as interim vice chair for education and extending her congratulations on her new leadership role in our department. We look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on the development of our trainees and within the broader realm of medical education.