Doug Slakey

Biography

Douglas Slakey, MD, MPH, full professor, is the Chair of the Health Systems Science Department.

Dr. Slakey has served as Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago since 2018, and Chair of the Department of Surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine from 2006 to 2016. His diverse expertise encompasses clinical practice, teaching, curriculum design, and leadership in medical education. He has participated in regional and national education committees and has successfully acquired grants. Dr. Slakey has also managed and consulted on complex system management in health systems science, showcasing his ability to handle the field's challenges and opportunities. He champions these ideas in his new book, The Process Manifesto: Improving Healthcare in a Complex World.

In building the Health Systems Science Department, Dr. Slakey brings strong leadership and administrative skills, extensive experience in teaching and raising funds through grants, the ability to establish strategic partnerships with industry, comprehensive understanding of healthcare delivery, and a focus on interprofessional collaboration in optimizing healthcare delivery.  He plans to address healthcare disparities in preparing our future healthcare leaders and to integrate research and practice with an emphasis on technology, including AI, in ethical and compassionate care.

Dr. Slakey envisions the department to enable students to become agents of hope in the health care system and for the department to be a vital resource for healthcare organizations, policymakers, and communities, improving access, quality, reliability, and value in healthcare delivery through education, research, and outreach.