by Kathy Whitney
Ann Price, MD, who has served as associate dean of Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Affairs (VMAA) since 2008, will be stepping down from the position, effective July 1.
Through this transition, Price, who served as executive director of VMAA from 2003-2008 before being named associate dean, will move to part-time status in a physician liaison role with the VMAA and will continue to support all aspects of the VMAA’s mission.
Price has been instrumental in restructuring the VMAA board to include not only Vanderbilt University School of Medicine graduate representatives from across the country, but also provide board seats for former house staff trainees who represent Vanderbilt University Medical Center specialty societies.
During her tenure, she established VMAA mentoring and host programs that engage alumni with current students. These programs are now widely emulated at other medical schools. In collaboration with Eskind Biomedical Library colleagues, Price implemented no-charge, online learning resources for medical alumni. She and her staff help plan and orchestrate the VUSM biennial reunions and host alumni regional and national conference events across the country.
“For nearly two decades Dr. Price has played an integral role in the school’s relationship with its alumni. Through her personal touch, Ann has excelled at connecting with alums from across the country,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of VUSM.
“By engaging students and house staff from the time they arrive to the time they depart, she has built long-lasting relationships that will serve the school for years to come. We are grateful to Ann for her service and for her continued engagement with alumni in this new role.”
Among her accomplishments, Price has initiated a series of student-focused events that celebrate educational milestones such as the “You’re Halfway There” luncheon for second-year medical students and “Almost Alumni” pre-graduation celebration for fourth-year students.
To engage the resident physicians, Price and her team provided house staff nights out and supported House Staff Advisory Council initiatives.
Price considers all these efforts important avenues of engagement with current VUSM students and house staff who quickly become medical alumni leaders, she said.
“I have especially enjoyed the ability to work alongside and provide mentorship for our incredibly talented Vanderbilt medical students and VUMC house staff. It is a special joy to watch them graduate, complete training and become Vanderbilt medical alumni leaders as faculty members, community physicians and research scientists. We have the best medical alums anywhere, and it’s been a distinct privilege to serve them as their associate dean. I look forward to continuing to serve our Vanderbilt medical alumni in my new role,” she said.
Price graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1971, and she is a member of the 1978 VUSM class, a former Founder’s Medalist and a Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame inductee.
She has also served as Vanderbilt University’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and chair of Vanderbilt University’s Faculty Athletics Committee for the past two years.