Dunnington to lead Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Surgery
Gary Dunnington, M.D., has been named chair of the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Surgery.
A native of Indiana, Dr. Dunnington graduated from Chrysler High School in New Castle, Ball State University and the IU School of Medicine, and he completed his internship and residency in surgery at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Dunnington came to IU in August after 15 years at Southern Illinois University, where he had served since 2000 as professor and chair of surgery. Previously, he was an associate professor of surgery and senior associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Southern California School of Medicine.
A surgical oncologist, Dr. Dunnington's clinical focus is in breast and endocrine disease. He has been the founding medical director of two multidisciplinary breast centers, first at the USC Norris Cancer Center and at Southern Illinois University. His research support as a principal or co-principal investigator has totaled more than $5.6 million, and he has published more than 125 peer-review articles.
Dr. Dunnington has a particular interest in medical education and has received 19 institutional teaching awards. He has been named Outstanding Faculty Teacher of the Year nine times at four institutions. In 2010, he received the Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges. He is a past president of the Association for Surgical Education and received its 1999 Distinguished Educator Award. He has been a visiting professor of education to departments of surgery in nearly half of the medical schools in the United States.
Dr. Dunnington is a member of several medical societies including the Association for Academic Surgery; the American College of Surgeons, where he is a Fellow; the Society for Surgical Oncology; the American Cancer Society; the American Surgical Association; and the American Medical Association.