Announcement: Dr. Audra Duncan appointed as the John Denstedt Chair in Surgical Simulation

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Audra Duncan has been appointed as the John Denstedt Chair in Surgical Simulation in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, effective December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2027.

Dr. Duncan earned her BS from MIT in 1988 and MD in 1992 from Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, where she also did her General Surgery training.  She was subsequently a fellow in the Division of Vascular Surgery at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and joined the staff at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota from 2000-2015.

Dr. Duncan has led multiple educational and research committees, including Program Director of the Mayo Vascular Surgery Residency and Fellowship, Institutional Review Board Chair, Chair of the American Board of Surgery Vascular Surgery In-Training Examination Committee and Chair of the American College of Surgeons Vascular Surgery Advisory Council.  

Dr. Duncan joined the Western Department of Surgery in January 2016, as a professor and Chair/Chief in the Division of Vascular Surgery. She is currently Associate Editor of the Journal of Vascular Surgery (JVS) clinical reviews, and Associate Editor for Rutherford's 10th Edition Vascular Surgery textbook. She is also co-chair of the UCLA/SVS Vascular Surgery review course.  She initiated the vascular surgery simulation program at Mayo Clinic, and continues to serve as faculty at multiple yearly simulation programs, teaching both open and endovascular techniques.

Dr. Duncan has authored more than 135 papers published in peer reviewed journals and contributed to more than 40 book chapters. Her research interests and areas of expertise include: ruptured aneurysms, open management of complex aortic aneurysms, gender differences in vascular surgery outcomes, thoracic outlet syndrome, graft infections, and education and simulation programs for medical students and residents. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Duncan on her appointment.

John Yoo, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University