Simon Haroutounian, PhD, MSc, Chief of the Division of Clinical and Translational Research (DoCTR) in the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine and Chief of Clinical Research at the WashU Medicine Pain Center, was installed as the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology on Monday, June 1, 2026.
The installation ceremony and presentation were hosted by Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, the Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor of Anesthesiology and head of the Department of Anesthesiology, and Eva Aagaard, MD, Vice Dean for Education and Vice Chancellor for Medical Education.
Dr. Haroutounian has advanced through the academic ranks at WashU Medicine from assistant professor to division chief and is now a tenured professor. His career has been marked by sustained federal funding, a portfolio of high-impact publications that have helped shape the field of pain medicine, and meaningful contributions to the institution’s educational mission.
“More impressive than many of his accomplishments is Dr. Haroutounian’s character, his authenticity, his curiosity, his ethics, his love of humanity, and his desire to change the world and make it a better place for all of us,” said Avidan. “Simon makes us all better through his approach to science, to patients, to colleagues, and to everybody with whom he interacts.”
Dr. Haroutounian’s research is both robust and diverse, addressing critical clinical questions central to advancing the understanding and treatment of pain. His work aims to understand why some patients develop chronic pain after surgery and how it can be prevented. This research also examines how and why individuals respond differently to pain medications, with the goal of creating more personalized treatment approaches.
In his installation address, “Everybody hurts differently: a translational journey towards personalized pain medicine,” Dr. Haroutounian emphasized that pain is deeply individual and that this variability must be better understood to improve care. His laboratory conducts clinically relevant pain research aimed at answering fundamental questions: What is pain? Can we predict it? Can we prevent it? Can we treat it more effectively?
Pain remains a significant societal challenge, in part because current treatment options are often insufficient. Through a translational research approach, Dr. Haroutounian and his team are working to bridge this gap — developing strategies to prevent chronic pain when possible and transforming individualized pain management into a rigorous, evidence-based science.
“Simon’s work across the translational continuum is nothing short of remarkable and truly exemplifies the kind of impact we aspire to at WashU Medicine,” said Avidan.
About Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden
For Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden, service was a lifelong calling expressed through medicine, military leadership, philanthropy, and a deep commitment to their home state of Missouri.
Dr. Russell Shelden earned his medical degree from WashU in 1949 and was a highly respected anesthesiologist. From 1958 to 1983, he served on the clinical faculty in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Missouri while also building a long career at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, where he served as president of the medical staff and received the Medical Staff Distinguished Award.
He was also a leader within his profession, serving as president of both the Kansas City Society of Anesthesiologists and the Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. He was an active member of the American Medical Association and the Missouri State Medical Association.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Shelden served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 65 years, retiring as a colonel and earning numerous military honors, including three World War II battle stars and the Department of the Army’s Meritorious Service Medal.
Mary B. Shelden, a graduate of the University of New Mexico, was a dedicated philanthropist and civic leader who championed scholarships, arts organizations, and educational opportunity. She was active in Kansas City as a member of the Junior League and the board of directors of the Women’s Division of the Kansas City Philharmonic.
Together, the Sheldens were Eliot Society Life Patrons and recipients of WashU’s Robert S. Brookings Award. Their philanthropy established endowed professorships at WashU Medicine and the University of Missouri, along with the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Clinical Simulation Center. Their enduring investments in medical education and research will continue to improve lives for generations to come.