The Duke University School of Medicine’s Office for Culture, Engagement and Impact has selected the Duke Anesthesia for Social Health (DASH) team as a 2026 Michelle P. Winn Inclusive Excellence Award team recipient. This award is presented annually to those who have made significant contributions within the School of Medicine and who exemplify a commitment to excellence, innovation and leadership.
DASH is comprised of a collaborative group of faculty, residents and students focused on bridging the gap between clinical anesthesia and the social determinants of health (SDH). The team is currently advancing several initiatives aimed at integrating SDH into the academic curriculum, assessing perspectives about SDH within clinical environments, and advocating for universal access to high-quality patient care.
The project operates on two primary fronts:
- Clinical Intervention: DASH provides patients in the pain and pre-anesthesia clinics with tailored access to local social resources, ensuring that non-medical barriers to health are addressed as a standard part of perioperative care.
- Medical Education: The team developed and piloted a longitudinal curriculum for anesthesiology residents centered on the social determinants of health and the achievement of impartial clinical outcomes. This program immerses trainees in the impact of SDH, moving beyond the classroom into real-world applications within the pain clinic, obstetric anesthesiology, high-fidelity simulations, and the broader perioperative space.
DASH members include Dr. Peter Yi (Duke Anesthesiology faculty), Dr. Reade Tilman (Duke Anesthesiology alumna), Drs. Ashley Vincent Thomson and Sophia Toles (Duke Anesthesiology residents), along with Katrina Hon, Mindy Kim and Danielle Pitchon (Duke medical students). Awardees will be honored during Duke’s Advancing Excellence in Research Symposium on April 28.
“This recognition reflects a shared mission to look beyond the clinical monitors and truly support the person behind the procedure. We are excited to continue scaling DASH as a blueprint for how anesthesiology departments can—and should—lead the way in social health education," says Thomson, CA-3 in the Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program.
“Receiving this award recognizes the collective effort of a dedicated team committed to advancing excellence into our work,” adds Yi, associate professor of anesthesiology.