Tulane surgeon honored with national award for service

Mary L. Brandt, MD, MDiv, Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine, has been named the 2021 Olga Jonasson Distinguished Member Award with the Association of Women Surgeons Foundation. The award is given to an AWS member who, through outstanding mentorship, enables and encourages women surgeons to realize their personal and professional goals.

“I am incredibly honored to have been selected at this year's recipient of the AWS Olga Jonasson award,” said Brandt. “Dr. Jonasson was the first female chair of Surgery in the United States and to be in her company and the company of the women leaders who preceded me as awardees is truly humbling.”

An established and successful clinical researcher, Dr. Brandt has published more than 220 peer-reviewed publications, 26 chapters, and two books. In addition to pediatric surgery, she has interest and expertise in physician wellness and speaks and writes regularly on compassion fatigue, work-life balance, and the art of medicine.

“We hit the lottery with the successful recruitment of Dr. Brandt to New Orleans,” said Mary Killackey, MD, the Robert and Viola Lobrano Chair in Surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine. “Her years of experience as a pediatric surgeon, a teacher and a care-giver provide inspiration to so many of us in the department. There is no one more deserving of selection for this most prestigious national recognition.”

The annual Association of Women Surgeons Foundation conference ceremony will be held Monday, Oct. 18.