This announcement was sent on behalf of Dr. Michael Avidan.
I am pleased to share that Simon Haroutounian, PhD, MSc, has been appointed the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology.
Dr. Haroutounian is a tenured professor who serves as the Division Chief of Clinical and Translational Research (DoCTR) in the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine, as well as the Chief of Clinical Research at the WashU Medicine Pain Center. His leadership, scholarship, and mentorship have had an extraordinary impact on our department and on the broader field of pain medicine.
A pioneer in neuropathic and postsurgical pain research, Dr. Haroutounian has advanced our understanding of these conditions through a uniquely integrative approach that connects mechanistic discovery with patient-centered clinical outcomes. His work has shaped international guidelines for neuropathic pain diagnosis and management and has driven clinical innovations that improve patient care. His sustained federal and industry funding, extensive publication record, and service in leadership roles within the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) underscore the significance of his contributions.
Beyond his research, Dr. Haroutounian is a dedicated educator and mentor. He has directed key components of the medical school’s Gateway Curriculum and has been recognized with multiple Distinguished Service Teaching Awards, along with the Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Teaching Fellowship.
The Shelden Professorships were established through the generosity of Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden, native Missourians whose enduring commitment to medical education and research has supported generations of learners and faculty at WashU Medicine and throughout Missouri.
Dr. Russell Shelden earned his medical degree from Washington University in 1949 and served for decades as a leader in anesthesiology in Kansas City, including on the clinical faculty of the University of Missouri and as president of multiple professional societies. A U.S. Army Reserve colonel for 65 years, he received multiple military honors, among them three World War II battle stars. Mrs. Mary Shelden, a University of New Mexico graduate, was a dedicated philanthropist and community leader who supported numerous scholarships and arts organizations.
The Sheldens were Eliot Society Life Patrons and recipients of the Robert S. Brookings Award in recognition of their longstanding support of WashU. In addition to establishing endowed professorships at WashU and at the University of Missouri, they also created the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Clinical Simulation Center at the University of Missouri, providing hands-on training opportunities for future physicians. As Dr. Shelden noted, “Making these gifts is our attempt to further the progress of medical education and research at both universities.”
This appointment honors both their legacy and Dr. Haroutounian’s outstanding accomplishments.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Haroutounian on this well-deserved recognition.