The following statement was released jointly by the Department of Anesthesiology and the Dean's Office:
It is with profound sadness that we inform you of the passing yesterday of Kelly Ann Machovec, MD, MPH, associate professor of anesthesiology and esteemed pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist.
An exceptional academician and physician, Dr. Machovec dedicated her career to improving the lives of children. Her research focused primarily on the hemostasis management of children following open heart surgery performed on cardiopulmonary bypass. Earlier this year she received the Duke Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center Impact Award, recognizing her impact on the clinical practice around hemostasis, on both local and national levels. She was a fierce advocate for child-centered health care policies. In 2015, she co-founded the Hemostasis Interest Group, a committee within the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society which she served on for six years as committee chair, member and mentor; she also served as an at-large member on the Board of Directors of the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society. Dr. Machovec was also a passionate educator, serving as chair of the Clinical Competency Committee for Duke's Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship and as a question writer and committee member for the American Board of Anesthesiology's Pediatric Maintenance of Certification.
From 2013-2017, she advocated for pediatric health care on a global scale by taking part in medical missions in India, the Philippines and Haiti for Operation Smile, which helps children with cleft lip and cleft palate, and Gift of Life International, which provides lifesaving cardiac treatment to children in need from developing countries. Earlier this year, Dr. Machovec received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award from the School of Medicine, which recognizes exemplars of humanism in the care of their patients.
Dr. Machovec received her Master of Public Health degree in 2005 and her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2006, both at the University of North Carolina. She went on to complete a residency in anesthesiology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology here at Duke University School of Medicine. In 2013, Dr. Machovec joined the School of Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor of anesthesiology; she was appointed an associate professor of anesthesiology in 2019.
Please join us in extending our sincerest condolences to Dr. Machovec's family, friends and colleagues. Memorial service details will be forthcoming. At the request of her family, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Dr. Machovec's memory. Duke flags will be lowered in honor of her life and legacy.
Mary E. Klotman, MD
Dean, Duke University School of Medicine
Joseph Matthew, MD, MHSc, MBA
Chair, Department of Anesthesiology