An announcement from Dr. Michael Avidan:
It is with pride and excitement, tinged also with some sadness, that I wish to inform you that Dr. Courtney Hardy, our Vice Chair for Clinical Operations, will be leaving Washington University at the end of July to take on the important leadership role of Vice President of Perioperative Services at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Medical Center of Chicago and Northwestern University.
Dr. Hardy has been at Washington University for four years, and he has played a key leadership role, especially during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, he has contributed clinically throughout his time here as a dedicated pediatric anesthesiologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Together with several other leaders in the department, Dr. Hardy has helped to coordinate our response to a health crisis that will likely define our generation and will alter the trajectory of healthcare in the world for decades to come.
In the crucible of the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Hardy honed his leadership skills and now provides demonstrable proof of our mantra that Washington University provides you with the skills and opportunities to thrive anywhere. Dr. Hardy continues in the proud tradition of a parade of leaders who have been mentored to take on substantial leadership opportunities here, have gained national prominence for their accomplishments, and have then been recruited to highly influential leadership roles either here at Washington University, or other preeminent institutions all around the world.
Please join me in wishing Courtney well as he embarks on this new adventure in his professional life. He leaves a department that is strong and resilient, and that will continue to develop many leaders in the mold of Dr. Hardy. He is a great friend to our department and will continue to be our champion on the national and international stage.
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