W. Michael Bullock

Dr. William Michael Bullock is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Duke University Medical Center. He earned his BS and BA from New Mexico State University, followed by his MD and PhD at the University of New Mexico, where his doctoral research focused on the molecular biology of schizophrenia. He completed his anesthesiology residency and fellowship in regional and ambulatory anesthesia at Duke, where he has remained on faculty since 2015.

Dr. Bullock’s research and clinical interests center on orthopedic and sports medicine anesthesia, with a particular emphasis on optimizing pain control and recovery. His work has advanced understanding of tourniquet hypertension and ischemic pain as a potential surrogate for compartment syndrome, as well as perioperative management in spine surgery with a focus on regional anesthesia techniques and the development of awake spine surgery approaches. He is especially dedicated to refining strategies that improve patient outcomes and enhance recovery.

A committed educator and mentor, Dr. Bullock is actively involved in training residents and fellows at Duke as both Director of the Senior Resident Regional Rotation and Duke North Site Director for the Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship. He also regularly shares his expertise at national scientific meetings through lectures and research presentations. His career is defined by a passion for advancing patient care through innovation, collaboration, and the integration of clinical excellence with research discovery.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Bullock values time with his wife and their two sons, along with their family dogs. He loves sports, is an avid (though self-described “bad but improving”) golfer, enjoys working in the yard, and making dishes with New Mexico green chile. Together, he and his family enjoy traveling, staying active, and making the most of family life.