We are delighted to announce that after a competitive interview process, Nicole Durko, DO, has been newly appointed as the Associate Chief of the Division of Obstetric Anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, effective January 1, 2024. This appointment will coincide with the Department of Anesthesiology’s comprehensive coverage of labor and delivery services at Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MBMC), where she currently serves as the Director of Obstetric Anesthesiology.
Dr. Durko earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University — Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and stayed in Chicago to complete her anesthesiology residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She joined WashU in 2006 to pursue her obstetric anesthesiology fellowship and later became a valued member of our department’s faculty. Dr. Durko has played an integral role within our team, rising to the rank of associate professor in the department.
Among her many achievements, Dr. Durko has played an instrumental role at MBMC, earning the Center of Excellence designation from the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) in 2020. This designation recognizes institutions and programs that excel in obstetric anesthesia care and sets a benchmark for expected care to improve standards nationally and internationally. Additionally, Dr. Durko actively contributes to various hospital-level committees at MBMC, including the Maternal Safety Work Group, Women and Infants Quality Committee, and Intersociety Steering Committee, among others.
Please join us in extending a warm congratulations to Dr. Durko on her well-deserved appointment. We look forward to her continued success in our department and community.
Warmly,
Arvind and Michael
Arvind Palanisamy, MBBS, MD, FRCA
Chief of Obstetric Anesthesiology
Department of Anesthesiology
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, FCASA
Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor of Anesthesiology
Head of the Department of Anesthesiology
Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, Barnes-Jewish Hospital