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Passings

Vanderbilt mourns loss of R. Daniel Beauchamp, MD

April 26, 2023

Photo by Anne Rayner

Dr. Daniel Beauchamp, MD, former chair of the Section of Surgical Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and surgeon-in-chief of Vanderbilt University Hospital, died Nov. 27, 2022, at Alive Hospice. He was 66.

Dr. Beauchamp, the John Clinton Foshee Distinguished Professor of Surgery, also held an appointment as professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. He served as chair of the Section of Surgical Sciences for 17 years, from July 2001 until he stepped down from the role in July 2018 to focus on his research. He served as deputy director of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center  from 2011 to 2019 and was appointed to the role of vice president for Cancer Center Network Affairs in 2018.

Under Dr. Beauchamp’s leadership the Section of Surgical Sciences strengthened its national reputation for innovation and advancing surgical care. During his tenure as chair, he supported expansion of the department’s research endeavors until the group reached the top 10 in funding from the National Institutes of Health.

“Dr. Beauchamp will be remembered as one of VUMC’s legendary leaders,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “Dan’s contributions were enormous, helping propel our patient care and research initiatives to new heights. A true physician and scientist, he led with compassion and was tenacious in his efforts to advance our surgical programs while contributing enormously to the world of cancer research. A champion of diversity, equity and inclusion, Dan was steadfast in his commitment to people. We will miss him greatly, and our thoughts are with his wife, Shannon, and their daughter, Bryn.”

Beauchamp positioned the Section of Surgical Sciences to successfully meet the demands of a steadily increasing volume of surgical cases and ambulatory visits, as well as expanded the training efforts for future surgeons. Today, the section is home to 199 clinical and research faculty and 118 residents and 37 fellows training in 19 specialties.