Jamaica-born surgeon Dr André Dick has added to his already acclaimed repertoire with an appointment as senior vice president (SVP) and surgeon-in-chief at the Seattle Children’s Hospital in the United States.

The appointment this week, which follows his interim service in the role since April last year, confirms the Wolmer’s Boys’ High School alumnus’ place on the Executive Leadership Team at Seattle Children’s.

Dick, 48, attended Wolmer’s in Jamaica from 1984 to 1991 and is a member of the school’s Class of 1989.

After completing his doctoral studies at the State University of New York and his residency at Penn State University Hospital, Dick joined the transplant division of the University of Washington School of Medicine where he got involved with the Seattle Children’s Hospital and honed his skills in paediatric transplant surgery.

He has served at Seattle Children’s Hospital since 2008, first as a surgeon in the Division of Transplant Surgery, then in 2016 as surgical director of Kidney Transplantation.

In the year 2017 he became clinical director for the surgical inpatient unit, and in 2020 was appointed associate surgeon-in-chief.

Today, Dick serves the hospital as senior vice president and surgeon-in-chief, following his official appointment to the role on Wednesday (January 26).

According to Seattle Children’s, Dick is a champion of addressing racism and promoting an inclusive culture, a value system that has led him to become a co-DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) advisor to the American Society of Transplant Surgeons executive council.

In addition, Dick is also co-leading the Children’s Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (HEDI) Education and Leadership Committee which is focused on providing anti-racism education and training opportunities for the workforce. 

Noting that the Wolmerian brings this vital lens to his role as surgeon-in-chief, Seattle Children’s stated that his role would see him “responsible for Seattle Children’s surgical operations, ensuring all aspects of operative care function safely, equitably and efficiently”.

In 2021, US News & World Report named Seattle Children’s among the nation’s best children’s hospitals, ranking it among the top 30 in the country in 10 of 10 specialty areas and among the top 10 in three specialties.