The upper school will virtually host Dr. Dana M. Thompson ’85, as the Hazard lecturer next Friday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m. The topic of her discussion will be: Freedom with Responsibility: How institutional culture and lived experiences shape personal values and influence one's career pathway. Faculty and staff are able to view the presentation through this link: https://events.veracross.com/pembrokehill/75-Hazard.

Dana is the Lauren D. Holinger professor of pediatric otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) and division head at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She also serves as the vice chair for the department of surgery and the executive physician director for ambulatory practice. Dana spent 18 years of her career at the Mayo Clinic, where she was the founding chair of the division of pediatric otolaryngology. In 2011, she achieved the academic rank of professor, becoming the first African American woman professor in otolaryngology head and neck surgery in the United States.  She is considered one of the world’s authorities on laryngomalacia. 

She has published 86 scientific articles and 20 book chapters and has delivered over 300 presentations in areas of clinical and scientific research, practice development, physician burnout/wellness and bias in healthcare to local, regional, national and international audiences.

Dana, a member of the final class at Sunset Hill, was the co-editor-in-chief of the Sundial yearbook her senior year. She was also a pioneer at the school, playing soccer in its inaugural season. The two Sunset Hill teams were part of the first organized high school-level girls soccer league in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Dana also served as the first president of the Latin Club.

Dana received her bachelor’s and medical degrees through the six-year dual-degree program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She completed master’s degrees in clinical outcomes research and business administration from the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and National Louis University, respectively. She also finished the certificate program for emerging leaders at the Mayo Clinic.