Thomas R. Vetter, M.D., MPH

Thomas Vetter, M.D., MPH, MFA, is a nationally recognized expert on perioperative medicine, value-based health care and health services research.

Since coming to Austin in 2016, Vetter has co-led the development and sustained growth of an innovative, hybrid Perioperative Surgical Home model, which is a coalition among Ascension Texas, USAP-Texas (Central) and SOUND. Vetter is currently deputy editor-in-chief of the preeminent journal Anesthesia & Analgesia. Vetter has published extensively and has lectured nationally on various topics in anesthesiology, perioperative medicine, pain management, health policy, research design, clinical outcomes and comparative effectiveness research.

While at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 2007 to 2016, Vetter was the Maurice S. Albin Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. He was vice chair and director of the Division of Pain Medicine; medical director of the Preoperative Assessment, Consultation and Treatment Clinic; professor of gerontology, geriatrics and palliative care; professor of pediatrics; and a professor of health policy and organization. While at UAB, Vetter led the development of a pioneering perioperative surgical home model and an innovative, comprehensive geriatric pain management program.

After earning his undergraduate degree at Oberlin College, Vetter attended medical school at The Ohio State University in Columbus. Vetter completed residency training at the University of Florida in Gainesville in pediatrics and anesthesiology and a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Vetter also holds a Master of Public Health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and a Master of Fine Arts in writing from Lindenwood University in St. Louis. He completed the Certificate in Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University in New York City.