John Thomas, MD, associate professor of Pediatric Urology, has two new roles at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Thomas has assumed a newly created role as clinical director for the OR at Children’s Hospital and is an associate chief of staff.
Thomas, among his many duties, will coordinate with nursing for high performance operative services and will be involved in staff engagement, patient satisfaction and quality measurement and analysis, working with John W. Brock III, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief, and Meg Rush, MD, Chief of Staff and Executive Medical Director for Children’s Hospital.
In addition to his new roles, which were effective July 1, Thomas will continue his work as a pediatric urologic surgeon.
“Dr. Thomas is a proven leader and innovator not only within urologic surgery but in pediatric surgical services. He is passionate about providing quality care to patients and families, and he is well-respected among colleagues at Children’s Hospital as well as across the nation. I am thrilled that Dr. Thomas has agreed to take on these two roles,” said Brock, Director of Pediatric Urology, Monroe Carell Jr. Professor and Senior Vice President for Pediatric Surgical Services.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Thomas received his medical degree from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. After his Cleveland Clinic residency, he came to Children’s Hospital for a pediatric urology fellowship in 2004, and he has been on faculty since.
“I am very excited to work with Dr. Thomas in these roles,” Rush said. “The integration of all services from an operations perspective is part of our daily administrative work at Children’s Hospital. Dr. Thomas will add to this work because of his dual roles, thereby enhancing our efforts around delivery of the most effective and efficient care for children.”
Thomas has become a leader at Children’s Hospital in laparoscopic surgery, particularly non-invasive robotic surgery. He received training in advanced laparoscopic procedures from Duke Herrell, MD, professor of Urologic Surgery. In 2011, Thomas led the medical team that performed the first robotic surgery at Children’s Hospital using the da Vinci Surgical System.
“I want to sincerely thank the hospital leadership for entrusting me with these new roles. I look forward to working closer with people I already know and admire, as well as meeting new colleagues along the way. I will strive to do the best job I can supporting our surgical leadership team as well as Dr. Rush and the other associate chiefs of staff who have been so welcoming,” Thomas said.
“Supporting the people I work alongside while helping implement current, as well as new, systems processes will be my primary goal. As always, I look forward to being part of the unified focus of providing the best care possible for the children and families we humbly serve each and every day.”