Donald Brady, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Health Sciences Education for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) and Executive Vice President for Educational Affairs for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has been appointed to an expanded oversight role of Executive Vice Dean for Academic Affairs for VUSM. This appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2023.
In this expanded role, Brady, who is also a professor of Medicine and Medical Education & Administration, will merge his current education responsibilities for VUSM and VUMC with the role of Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs currently held by David Raiford, MD, who is stepping down from the position Dec. 31.
“Interestingly, this will be my third time to follow a legend after their long, distinguished career. Initially, I joined Vanderbilt succeeding Fred Kirchner, MD, after his 20 years leading Graduate Medical Education. Then, I succeeded Bonnie (Miller), MD, MMHC, who was in my current role for more than 10 years. Now, I have the opportunity to succeed another highly esteemed leader, Dr. Raiford, as he steps down after nearly 15 years as Faculty Affairs leader,” Brady said.
Brady’s additional responsibilities will include leading the Office of Faculty Affairs, which oversees activities relating to VUMC employees holding faculty appointments, promotions, faculty career development, and oversight for the endowed chair and directorship processes. In partnership with Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Chief Strategic and Scientific Officer, Brady will also oversee joint or dual faculty recruitment efforts with the other deans across Vanderbilt University. All of Dr. Brady’s expanded VUSM responsibilities report to Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer for VUMC and Dean of VUSM, in his role as Dean of the School of Medicine.
“I’m really humbled to have this opportunity, and it’s only possible because of the strength of our leadership in both educational affairs and faculty affairs with others like Amy Fleming, Bill Cutrer, Kyla Terhune, Maureen Gannon, Steve Meranze and John Penn, among others,” Brady said.
Brady will also have oversight of the faculty awards process and the Academies of Excellence and will coordinate liaison activities with the University’s Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.
“Dr. Brady has amassed significant senior leadership experience overseeing the School of Medicine’s highly sought educational and residency training programs. He is well prepared to assume the additional responsibilities as faculty affairs leader. I look forward to working closely with him,” said Balser. “I want to again express my deep appreciation to Dr. Raiford for his many years of outstanding service to our faculty.”
Brady is also responsible for Vanderbilt’s Center for Programs in Allied Health, which includes nuclear medicine technology, cardiovascular perfusion technology, diagnostic medicine sonography, dietetic internships, and medical laboratory services. These programs are increasingly important to VUMC’s mission to provide highly skilled professionals to serve in these roles.
Brady is a “Quad ‘Dore” having ties to Vanderbilt as an undergraduate student, medical student, resident physician and faculty member. As a faculty member, he has been at Vanderbilt since 2007 when he returned as Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education. He has been in his current position of Senior Associate Dean and EVP for Educational Affairs since July 1, 2019. He served as chair of Vanderbilt’s Faculty Senate from 2013-2014, three times as the Senate’s Parliamentarian, and currently serves as an ex officio member of the Faculty Senate.
“I am very pleased that Dr. Brady will be assuming this new role. He is a highly regarded leader with comprehensive knowledge of the many valuable relationships across VUSM, VUMC and the University. The Office of Faculty Affairs team and its missions will be in capable hands,” Raiford said.
In addition to his administrative roles, Brady works as a general internist. His primary interests are in medical education, doctor-patient communication, and physician wellness. He has received numerous teaching awards, including Clinician-Educator of the Year by the Southern Society of General Internal Medicine and has twice been a finalist for the Parker Palmer Courage to Lead Award.
Under Brady’s leadership, in 2017 VUMC received the DeWitt C. Baldwin, Jr. Award, co-sponsored by American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the Gold Foundation, recognizing sponsoring institutions exemplary in fostering a respectful, supportive environment for medical education and the delivery of patient care. In 2019, VUMC received one of the AMA’s $1.8 million Reimagining Residency grants with Brady as principal investigator, a role he passed to Kyla Terhune, MD, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Vice President for Educational Affairs, in 2020.
Brady is a fellow in the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare (AACH) and has served as the AACH chair of the board of directors and as president. He also has served on the board of directors for the ACGME, as well as the board’s Executive Committee, Governance Committee, Monitoring Committee, Education Committee, and the Policies and Procedures Subcommittee. He also served on ACGME’s Task Force on Physician Well-Being, as co-chair of its Education Subcommittee and co-facilitator of the 2018 ACGME Symposium on Physician Well-Being.
