Kelli Bullard Dunn appointed vice chair of national surgical workforce workgroup

Kelli Bullard Dunn, vice dean of community engagement at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and colorectal surgeon by trade, has been appointed vice chair of the Inclusive Excellence Collaborative Advocacy and Surgical Workforce Workgroup for the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Her appointment runs through October 2026 and is eligible for renewal for one additional year, for a maximum of two years of service.  

The workgroup aims to strengthen the surgical workforce pipeline through collaboration across education, advocacy and professional development -- priorities that closely mirror Bullard Dunn’s work at UofL. As vice chair, she will help coordinate national efforts to expand pathways for aspiring surgeons and address workforce challenges facing the profession. The group partners with the ACS’s high school, medical student and resident education programs at Clinical Congress, collaborates with the Medical Student Society and Resident and Associate Society on aligned initiatives and serves as a rapid-response panel to review legislation affecting surgical training and workforce development. The workgroup also coordinates closely with the ACS’s divisions of Advocacy and Health Policy, Education and Member Services. 

Bullard Dunn’s appointment reflects a career devoted to strengthening health care pathways and expanding opportunities for learners at every stage. She supports programs spanning the educational continuum, from middle school outreach to continuing education for practicing health professionals. Her office helps recruit community preceptors and place medical students in rural communities for their required Area Health Education Centers rotation, supports training experiences such as the Junior Surgery rotation in Madisonville at our Trover campus and works to expand community-based participatory research across Kentucky. Her office also plays an important role in advancing rural health initiatives, including partnerships that helped establish the Owensboro Family Medicine Residency and ongoing efforts to develop a rural Internal Medicine Residency with Baptist Health Paducah.  

“Strengthening the physician workforce begins long before residency,” Bullard Dunn said. “It starts with meaningful exposure to health careers, strong mentorship and opportunities for students to see themselves reflected in the future of medicine. I’m honored to help advance these efforts nationally and to work with colleagues across the country to expand pathways for the next generation of surgeons.” 

Her work at UofL also includes oversight of programs supported by the federally funded Medical Student Education Training Program (MSTEP), which provides scholarships, externships and training opportunities for students pursuing careers in primary care and service in communities with the greatest needs. The initiative invests more than $2 million annually in scholarships and training programs designed to strengthen the health care workforce across Kentucky. 

Jeffrey Bumpous, dean of the School of Medicine, said Bullard Dunn’s leadership and experience make her well-suited for the national role. 

“Dr. Bullard Dunn has dedicated her career to building meaningful pathways into medicine and ensuring our workforce reflects and serves the communities who depend on it,” Bumpous said. “Her leadership has strengthened educational opportunities and community partnerships across the commonwealth, and we are proud to see her expertise recognized at the national level through the American College of Surgeons.”