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Austin Beason is an orthopaedic surgeon and an Executive MBA student in the Fuqua School of Business. He is a husband, father of two young children, and avid proponent of lifelong learning. His enduring commitment to higher education, health care innovation, and public service stems from more than a decade immersed in academic medicine learning, training, and caring for patients.
After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2008-2012), Beason earned his M.D. degree and then completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He went on to complete a hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at the University of Florida before returning to Southern Illinois University as an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. He serves on his medical school Alumni Board of Governors, hosted two podcasts for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) focused on early-career professional development and research, and was named Resident Teacher of the Year by the Department of Surgery in 2020.
Beason has published nearly 20 peer-reviewed research articles in high-impact journals like the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, the Journal of Surgical Education, HAND, and the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. He has received grant funding for basic science research focused on regenerative medicine including one project that received the J. Leonard Goldner Pioneer Research Grant Award from the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand. Beason was also sponsored to attend the Orthopaedic Research Society Clinician Scholar Career Development Program to develop his skills as a physician-scientist.
His firsthand experiences navigating the modern health care system revealed not only its challenges but also the transformative potential of leadership and business acumen in driving change. With the intention of becoming a more effective advocate for patients, colleagues, and institutions, Beason enrolled in Duke’s Executive MBA program for its world-class reputation, its focus on leadership development, and the Health Sector Management certificate.
Beason was named a finalist for the Graduate/Professional Young Trustee position in 2025. His vision for Duke centers on maintaining the University’s relevance and leadership in a rapidly changing world. He believes higher education must evolve to meet increasingly complex global challenges—like health disparities, climate change, and political instability—through innovative research, inclusive community engagement, and cross-sector partnerships. For Beason, Duke is more than an institution—it is a platform for impact. As a physician, MBA student, and parent, he seeks to help shape a future where academic institutions like Duke are not only centers of knowledge, but also catalysts for collaboration, innovation, and global good.
Beason was nominated by the Graduate/Professional Young Trustee Nominating Committee in 2025. He is serving a two-year term on the board, one year as an observer and one year as a voting member. He is an observer on the Graduate and Professional Education and Research Committee.
July 2025