James D. Richardson, MD

Dr. J. David Richardson is a native Kentuckian who received his M.D. degree from the University of Kentucky and did his general surgery and thoracic surgery residencies at the University of Texas in San Antonio. Currently, he is Chief of Surgery and Director of Emergency Surgical Services at University Hospital, and Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Richardson has held several of the most important positions in American Surgery. He has served as President of the American Association for Surgery of Trauma, Southeastern Surgical Congress, Western Surgical Association and the Southern Surgical Association. He has also served as Chair of the American Board of Surgery and Vice Chair of the Residency Review Committee for Surgery. In 2012, he served as Chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeon. In October 2015, he was named President of the American College of Surgeons which has over 85,000 surgeon members.

A prolific scholar, Dr. Richardson has contributed 358 peer-reviewed articles, 51 book chapters and two books to the surgical literature. He has delivered numerous named lectureships and over 90 visiting professorships. He received the University of Louisville Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching, the School of Medicine Distinguished Educator Master Teacher Award, the Alumnus Association Red Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching at a University Level, and the Ephraim McDowell Kentucky Physician of the Year 2011. He recently received the University of Louisville 2016 Distinguished Faculty Award in Service for Career of Service. He has been honored as outstanding teaching faculty within the Department of Surgery on four occasions. In 2005, Dr. Richardson assumed the editorship of THE AMERICAN SURGEON journal in 2005.