Joseph P. Mathew, MD, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, will step down from his position as chair at the end of June 2025, after over a decade of dedicated service in this role. Dr. Mathew will continue to serve as a valued member of our faculty, pursuing his research into cognitive outcomes after surgery.
Dr. Mathew has been an integral part of Duke Health since 1998. He is the Jerry Reves, MD, Professor of Cardiac Anesthesiology, and his tenure as chair has been marked by numerous accomplishments that have significantly advanced the department and the field of anesthesiology. Over the last decade, Dr. Mathew has propelled the department to prominence as a national leader in clinical care, research, and education. He enhanced patient care by establishing the Preoperative Anesthesia and Surgical Screening (PASS) Clinic, a perioperative assessment program designed to optimize patients for surgery. His contributions to pain research are equally significant—he founded the Center for Translational Pain Medicine, now recognized as one of the top pain research centers worldwide. Dr. Mathew also revolutionized perioperative operations by spearheading the development of real-time data analytic tools, improving efficiency, patient outcomes, and business decision-making. Furthermore, he expanded pain services to encompass perioperative and integrated pain management, fostering a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to care.
Dr. Mathew has also been deeply committed to developing students and trainees, winning numerous awards for mentorship, and his signature initiative has been cultivating the next generation of leaders. He launched a multidimensional program that includes the Academy for Building Leadership Excellence (ABLE), investing in the growth and leadership of our faculty members. We are grateful for Dr. Mathew's leadership and contributions, and we look forward to his continued involvement as a faculty member.
We are pleased to announce that Padma Gulur, MD, current executive vice chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, will serve as interim chair starting July 1, 2025. Dr. Gulur's extensive experience and commitment to excellence make her the ideal candidate to lead the department during this transition. A national search for the new chair will commence in the spring of 2026.
Please join us in thanking Dr. Mathew for his outstanding service and welcoming Dr. Gulur to her new role.
Sincerely,
Mary E. Klotman, MD
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs,
Duke University;
Dean, Duke University School of Medicine;
Chief Academic Officer, Duke Health
Craig Albanese, MD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer,
Duke University Health System