Congratulations to Seema Deshpande, MBBS, FASA, Associate Professor and Program Director of Cardiothoracic Fellowship, for being awarded the 2025 Mackenzie/Imle Mentoring Prize!

The Mackenzie/Imle Prize is awarded annually to “outstanding faculty members demonstrating excellent mentorship with positive impact on professional development and career advancement in one or more of the following areas: clinical medicine, research, local and regional service, and teaching.” 

After careful deliberation, the selection committee has awarded the 2025 Mackenzie/Imle Mentoring Prize to Seema Deshpande, MBBS, FASA, Associate Professor and Program Director for our Cardiothoracic Fellowship.

In 2007, Dr. Deshpande joined the Department after completing a residency in anesthesiology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, MO (this was a second residency after she completed residency training at several major hospitals in India), and a fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Deshpande has been honored locally (Golden Apple Award in 2017 for Excellence in Teaching) and nationally (Women in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology – WICTA), with both Professional Coaching and Distinguished Service Awards.  Having served initially as Associate Program Director in 2017-2019, and now, as Program Director for our highly subscribed Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Dr. Deshpande has mentored numerous generations of medical students, residents, and fellows. Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself as a selfless mentor for our trainees and many of our faculty, with a resolute commitment to outstanding patient care and exemplary education. 

Congratulations, Dr. Deshpande, on this well-deserved award!