Richard Thigpen, MD
Richard Thigpen, MD, FACOG, is an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and medical director of the Vanderbilt Birth Center, one of the nation’s leading freestanding academic birth centers. A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, he also serves as a commissioner for the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC), contributing to the advancement of national standards for quality and safety in maternity care.
Dr. Thigpen provides strategic, clinical and operational leadership for a multidisciplinary team of physicians, certified nurse-midwives, advanced practice providers, nurses and administrative staff. His work focuses on building collaborative models of care, improving quality and patient safety, and delivering evidence-based, patient-centered maternity care.
His clinical interests include low and high-risk obstetrics, external cephalic version (ECV), minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and robotic-assisted surgery. He is passionate about advancing maternal health through innovation, quality improvement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Thigpen earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to joining Vanderbilt, he spent six years in private practice, an experience that continues to inform his leadership, physician mentorship and approach to healthcare delivery.
As a faculty member, Dr. Thigpen is dedicated to educating the next generation of obstetrician-gynecologists through clinical teaching, surgical education and resident mentorship. His academic interests include physician leadership, quality improvement, health care innovation and the integration of technology to enhance medical education and patient care.
Dr. Thigpen also serves on the Tennessee March of Dimes Board of Directors. In 2025, he received the American Association of Birth Centers Collaborating Physician Award in recognition of his leadership in advancing collaborative maternity care.
