Dr. Carla Pugh to Join Stanford Division of General Surgery

Carla Pugh, MD PhD, FACS will join Stanford University’s Department of Surgery as a Professor of General Surgery (UTL) effective March 1, 2018.

“Dr. Pugh is a pioneer in the use of sensor technology to objectively assess trainee performance in skill acquisition and we’re thrilled to bring her back to Stanford. Her groundbreaking work has shed light on the shortfalls of our current training systems and how we can solve this challenge,” said Department of Surgery Chair Dr. Mary Hawn. “We look forward to watching her take her program to the next level here at Stanford.”

Pugh’s research spans the fields of simulation, sensors, assessment, and big data. She has essentially created a new field of study on the science of touch as it applies to clinical skill acquisition. Pugh will relocate her laboratory to Stanford to further the field of sensor and motion tracking on skill acquisition.

“With sensors and simulation-based courses and curricula, Dr. Pugh is leading a revolution of medical education around the world,” said School of Medicine Dean Lloyd Minor. “She is a pioneer as well as a gifted surgeon, a natural collaborator, and a trusted mentor. I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her back to Stanford.”

Pugh is thought to be the first surgeon to receive a PhD in education, which she earned at Stanford in 2001. Pugh completed her medical degree and residency at Howard University and, most recently, has worked as a professor of surgical education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"I decided to join Stanford’s Department of Surgery because it provides an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate with top researchers, clinicians and entrepreneurs who desire to make indelible and transformative contributions to the future of patient care,” said Pugh.