This announcement was sent on behalf of Dr. Michael Avidan.
I am delighted to announce that Amynah Pradhan, PhD, has been appointed the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology.
Dr. Pradhan is a tenured professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and serves as Director of the Center for Clinical Pharmacology, a collaboration with the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. A leading neuroscientist and innovative collaborator, she is advancing our understanding of migraine biology and pain modulation through cutting-edge research.
Dr. Pradhan’s work has reshaped the migraine field—she was the first to develop a preclinical model of chronic migraine that is now widely used by academic and industry laboratories to evaluate new therapies. She also identified the delta opioid receptor as a novel therapeutic target for migraine, discoveries that have catalyzed clinical drug development programs currently advancing through clinical trials.
In addition to her scientific excellence, Dr. Pradhan has proven to be a visionary and effective leader. As Director of the Center for Clinical Pharmacology, she has strengthened cross-institutional collaboration and created new opportunities for multidisciplinary research in pain and pharmacology. She is also a dedicated mentor whose trainees and early-career faculty consistently flourish under her guidance.
The Shelden Professorships were established through the generosity of Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden, native Missourians whose philanthropic legacy has supported education, research, and innovation in anesthesiology 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 recognition honors both Dr. Pradhan’s remarkable achievements and the Sheldens’ enduring commitment to advancing science in service of patient care.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Pradhan on this well-deserved honor.