We are pleased to announce that Thomas Parker, MD, Professor, Section of Neonatology, has been appointed as Vice Chair for Education for the Department of Pediatrics effective November 1. Dr. Parker has been serving as Interim Vice Chair since August 2021 and his appointment follows an extensive search led by Dr. Shale Wong (Chair), Dr. Jennifer Barker, Dr. Robin Deterding, Dr. Brandi Freeman, Dr. Mary Kohn, Dr. Adam Rosenberg, Dr. Jennifer Soep, Mike Jonen, Gene Liffick and LeAnn Olonia.
Dr. Parker brings a wealth of experience to the role, having completed his Neonatology Fellowship at the University of Colorado from 1994 to 1997. Prior to joining the University of Colorado, he received his Medical Degree and pediatric residency training at Northwestern University and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Since joining the faculty of the Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital Colorado, he promoted to full Professor in 2017 and has served as the Director of Section of Neonatology Fellowship training program in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine since 2003.
Dr. Parker has been extensively involved in the educational programs of the Department and School of Medicine, serving as a voting member of the SOM Graduate Medical Education Committee and Co-Chair of the Department’s Committee on Fellowship Education. He is a past recipient of the SOM Academy of Medical Educators award for Excellence in Direct Clinical Teaching and the Gary Way Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Parker’s tenure as Interim Vice Chair, has been marked by several initiatives, including reestablishing monthly Pediatric Education Group meetings, funding awards through the Center for Educational Research and Scholarship (CERS), creating a DEI framework to guide fellowship program recruitment and advocating for additional educational support. He has also recruited new positions and will continue to spearhead priorities for the Department's robust education pillar.
Dr. Parker's priorities extend to improving the scholarship profile of the Department, integration of educators across campuses, providing further faculty development, expanding outreach programs, collaboration and coordination of recruitment efforts.
