Dear Colleagues,
The Division of Surgical Oncology is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Thacker, MD, as the new Chief of the Section of Colorectal Surgery.
Dr. Thacker joined the Duke faculty in 2008, following time at NW Surgical Associated in Denver, Colorado and a colorectal faculty appointment at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. She performed her residency training at the University of Utah and her colorectal fellowship at the Mayo Clinic.
While at Duke, Dr. Thacker has built a busy and robust clinical practice in diseases of the colon and rectum, and over the past two years has been a leader in the transition from laparoscopic to robotic colorectal surgery. She is nationally and internationally recognized for the work in perioperative medicine, has led Duke's efforts at ERAS implementation, and is a former President of the American Society for Enhanced Recovery.
Since 2015, Dr. Thacker has been the Director of the Department of Surgery's Clinical Research Unit (CRU), and has been responsible for the strength and efficiency of this CRU. She has closely partnered with DCI as the Director of our rectal cancer program. As the surgery lead for our Duke Digestive Disease Program, she holds a joint appointment in the Department of Medicine, Division of GI. She has an unwavering commitment to excellent patient care and commitment to excellence within the section's academic and educational missions.
Dr. Christopher Mantyh, Professor of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Christopher Mantyh, MD, former Chief of the Section of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery through 2020. Under Dr. Mantyh's leadership, the colorectal surgery section has provided compassionate, personalized, and high-quality care to patients, and has maintained its status as a high-volume center with referrals from across the world. Dr. Mantyh's expert skill in finding innovative ways to improve the quality of surgical care has been instrumental to the department and indeed to all of Duke University Hospital--as evidenced by the hospital's 5-year consecutive meritorious status from NSQIP.
Please join me in thanking Dr. Mantyh for his leadership, and in congratulating Dr. Thacker on her new role. We look forward to working with Dr. Thacker as she continues the great work of the Section of Colorectal Surgery!
Sincerely,
Peter J. Allen, MD
Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology
Professor of Surgery