She's a leader in her industry!
Dr. KMarie King is making history as the first Black woman to become chair of surgery at an Academic Health Center in the nation, NewsOne reports.
King is a Washington University alum and an Army veteran who completed her residency training in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. She eventually earned a master's degree in biomedical science at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Over the years, King became a thought leader in the healthcare sector, writing several articles exploring the interconnectedness of academic medicine and clinical research. Her career has been dedicated to advancing medical research around pancreatic and liver cancers.
Currently, she serves as chief of surgery and medical director for surgical quality at Grady Memorial Hospital and is a Morehouse School of Medicine professor. Now, Dr. King has been appointed to serve as the Department of Surgery and Chief of Surgery at Albany Medical Center, making history as the first Black woman to lead a surgery division at an Academic Health Sciences Center in the country.
King took to social media to share the good news, writing, "Words cannot express how delighted I am today of the announcement to lead the Dept of Surgery @AlbanyMed. The connection I felt with everyone I met made it seem ordained. I am humbled by the honor and am filled with gratitude. Thank you all for celebrating with me!"
Words can not express how delighted I am today of the announcement to lead the Dept of Surgery @AlbanyMed. The connection I felt with everyone I met made it seem ordained. I am humbled by the honor and am filled with gratitude. Thank you all for celebrating with me!
— KMarie MD (@KMarieMD) July 6, 2021
The new Albany Med Chief is just one of the less than 3 percent of Black women doctors in the U.S. Not only is her appointment historical, but it's also critical during a time when Black people across the globe are fighting for more representation across sectors. In addition to her work as a surgeon, King also is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract and the American College of Surgeons. She also serves on the Society of Black Academic Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons boards.
King is set to replace Steven Stain, M.D., beginning in her new role on September 1st.
Congratulations, Dr. King!
Photo Courtesy of @KMarieMD/Twitter