Annesley W Copeland

Dr. Annesley W Copeland serves as Associate Professor of Surgery and Core Surgery Clerkship Director at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, based at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Her 40-year career spans military and civilian surgical practice with dual expertise in clinical breast surgery and surgical education reform.

Her educational foundation includes an AB in Biology from Brown University (1981) and MD from University of Connecticut (1985), followed by surgical training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. She retired from the U.S. Army as Colonel in 2005 after deployments including Bosnia-Herzegovina (2001-2002), then transitioned to civilian faculty at USUHS where she led curriculum reform as Surgery Clerkship Director since 2012.

Dr. Copeland's research demonstrates two distinct trajectories: clinical work focuses on breast disease and cancer management, while educational scholarship examines clerkship effectiveness and assessment methodologies. Her publications span textbook chapters on breast health and wound healing, surgical safety protocols, and innovative medical education frameworks including the ACS feedback module.

Key honors include:

• Fellow and Board of Regents member (2020-present) of the American College of Surgeons
• Association of Women Surgeons President (2008-2009) after 30 years of continuous service
• Nine-time "Instructor of the Year" at AMEDD Center and School
• Surgical Education Research Fellowship (2011-2012)

As Clerkship Director, she mentors hundreds of medical students annually while serving on national committees including the American Board of Surgery's EPA Writing Group. Her leadership extends to the ACS Women in Surgery Committee and development of the AWS "Work-Life Balance" career guide. Current clinical work centers on breast surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.