Duke Orthopaedic Surgery proudly congratulates Erica D. Taylor, MD, MBA, Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon and Vice Chair of Culture, Engagement & Impact, on receiving the Duke Fuqua May-Penn Award of Excellence—the highest honor bestowed by Fuqua alumni through the Black and Latinx MBA Associations and the Fuqua Office of Admissions.
Presented during Fuqua’s annual reunion banquet, this award recognizes a distinguished alum for exceptional stewardship to the Fuqua School of Business and meaningful impact within the business community. Taylor was selected for her outstanding leadership, commitment to mentorship, and transformative contributions to health equity and organizational culture.
Taylor is a practicing orthopaedic surgeon and senior healthcare leader with a career that encompasses clinical practice, academic medicine, entrepreneurship, and national thought leadership. She is well known for driving healthcare transformation through innovative strategies that focus on quality, equity, leadership development, and system redesign. As the founder of national initiatives and organizations, she connects frontline clinical expertise with enterprise strategy— helping healthcare systems, medical technology companies, and professional societies adapt and succeed in a changing landscape.
A 2020 graduate of the Duke Executive MBA Program, Taylor has used her business education to lead care transformation and innovative projects at Duke Health. In her current role, she develops strategies that address social determinants of health and encourage inclusive, patient-centered care. Her appointment as an Executive Faculty Member at Fuqua highlights her dedication to education and mentorship, as she teaches MBA students about organizational leadership and the vital link between clinical operations and community health.
“To be considered and selected just five years after graduation was incredibly humbling and profoundly meaningful,” Taylor shared. “This recognition reflects the shared values that guide our work across Duke Health and the collaborative spirit that makes our progress possible.”
The May-Penn Award, established in honor of Owen May (’83) and Derek Penn (’84), celebrates alumni who exemplify leadership, accessibility, and engagement within the Fuqua community and beyond. Taylor’s achievement underscores her 25-year connection to Duke and her unwavering commitment to advancing care rooted in humanity for every community served.
Please join us in congratulating Taylor on this well-deserved honor and in celebrating her continued impact across Duke Health and the broader business community.