David J. Murray, M.D., has been appointed as chief of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Murray, the Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Professor and head of medical simulation at the School of Medicine, also becomes anesthesiologist-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He was appointed to the new position by Alex S. Evers, M.D., the Henry Elliot Mallinckrodt Professor and head of the Department of Anesthesiology.
“David Murray is a great fit for this position,” Evers said. “He has developed one of the best Clinical Simulation Centers in the world, and has used simulation to make important contributions in both education and research. He is a national leader in academic pediatric anesthesiology and is a highly competent and compassionate physician who provides exceptional care for children.”
Murray came to Washington University in 1995. Previously, he had been at the University of Iowa Hospitals and College of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan and residency training in anesthesiology at the University of Iowa.
“I feel very fortunate to be chosen for this position,” said Murray. “The continued expansion and national recognition of the surgical divisions at Children’s Hospital and Washington University make this an exciting time to be selected to lead the division as anesthesiologist-in-chief.”
A native of North Carolina, Murray has served as director of the Clinical Simulation Center since it opened in 1996. Simulation centers use mannequins and computers to allow doctors and medical students hands-on training in realistic scenarios. Murray designed and implemented a number of training and assessment programs for health professionals using simulators.
The author of more than 125 peer-reviewed publications, Murray also is associate editor of the journal Anesthesiology.
Washington University School of Medicine’s 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the nation, currently ranked third in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.