Maria B. Majella Doyle, MD, MBA, a world renowned Washington University transplant surgeon, was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) at their annual Charter Conference on February 3, 2023.
RCSI was established in 1784 as the national training body for surgery in Ireland. Since its founding, the College has been one of the world leaders in surgical education and prides itself on cutting-edge innovations and advances in medicine today. The Honorary Fellowship is the highest honor awarded by the College, bestowed upon recipients who inspire the next generation of surgeons and trainees at RCSI through their significant contributions to the world of medicine and beyond. Former recipients have included Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Louis Pasteur and Ralph Dacey Jr., MD, a former chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the School of Medicine.
During the ceremony, Doyle was recognized for her incredible contributions and dedication to the field of transplant surgery and lauded as an influential mentor to her students and trainees. Alongside Doyle, four other distinguished surgeons were inducted as honorary fellows.
“It is my pleasure to be awarding Honorary Fellowships to five individuals who have demonstrated such commitment to their fields and have contributed significantly to the practice of surgery around the world,” RCSI President Professor Laura Viani said of the inductees. “My sincere congratulations to you all.”
Doyle’s induction was not only an exceptional honor, but a homecoming: Doyle earned her medical degree and completed general surgery residency training at RCSI. In 2005, Doyle joined the fellowship program at Washington University and completed fellowships in HPB-GI surgery and abdominal organ transplant. In 2012, while also serving as an assistant professor of surgery, Doyle earned her MBA from Washington University and has continued to excel as a surgical leader at the School of Medicine.
“I would like to give sincere thanks to the Royal College and my colleagues at Washington University.” Doyle says. “It is truly an honor to be inducted into this incredible group of individuals recognized as Honorary Fellows.”
Throughout her remarkable career, Doyle has continually proven her dedication to her field and marked herself as an international leader in transplant surgery. Her goals and visions for the future of medicine center around delivering the best possible patient care, advocating for multidisciplinary teamwork, and fostering partnerships among health care providers to make real differences in the lives of patients. Her research has made significant contributions to the field of transplant surgery and has made visible impact on the disparity between donated organs and the patients who need them. She has developed and researched new strategies to recover and preserve organs so that more can be fit for transplant, thus increasing the number of patients who can receive viable organs and another shot at life. As an educator, Doyle is a well loved and respected mentor who prepares her students and trainees for successful patient-focused careers.
Read more: Leading in Liver Transplantation – Maria B. Majella Doyle, MD, MBA
Doyle was named the Mid-America Transplant/Department of Surgery Distinguished Endowed Chair in Abdominal Transplantation in June of 2022. She holds several prominent positions within Washington University, serving as Director of the Transplant/HPB Fellowship Program, Director of Liver Transplant in the Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Co-Director of the Faculty Development and Mentoring Program, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Executive Vice-Chair of the Department of Surgery. At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Doyle serves as Director of the Pediatric Transplant Program and Director of Faculty Development. Additionally, this year she is serving as President of the Americas Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Association (AHPBA).
“I cannot think of a surgeon more deserving of this honor than Dr. Doyle,” says Chief of Transplant Surgery William Chapman, MD. “She is an essential part of what makes transplant at Washington University exceptional. Every day she proves her expertise and commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients under her care and around the world.”