We are saying farewell this spring to Ilan Keidan, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, as he retires after more than 20 years at UF, including the past 16 on faculty.
Keidan completed his anesthesiology residency at UF after earning his medical degree from Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University in Israel. He was chief resident for the Department of Pediatrics at Sheba Medical Center in Israel. Keidan also completed a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
Keidan joined the UF faculty as an associate professor in 2001 as part of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology. Later, as UF Health’s Level 1 trauma center expanded, he used his skills as a longtime Army doctor and joined the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology and the Nighthawk Service. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Anesthesiology. He was also a member of several professional societies such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Israeli Society of Anesthesiology, and the European Society of Anesthesiology.
Keidan made tremendous contributions to the field and the education of the next generation of physicians. He produced more than 60 peer-reviewed publications. Much of his research focused on cardiac and pediatric anesthesiology.
He also received several awards throughout his career, including the Highest Impact Award for Anesthesiology from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 2011.
Keidan said he was proud of many small contributions during his tenure, such as the difficult airway bag for non-operating room difficult airway situations, the pediatric trauma cart in the South Tower, the midline service for trauma patients, and an innovative technique to use sodium bicarbonate to detect correct intravenous catheters, as well as assess cardiac output.
Moreover, he said he was most proud of the long hours that he spent teaching outstanding and attentive residents how to care for extremely sick children or navigate chaotic trauma situations. Keidan said leaving UF brought mixed emotions and a heavy heart.
“I have been a part of UF Health for many years,” he said. “I always felt honored to help sick Floridians while spending time with the best in our profession. This place and the people in the department will always hold the most special place in my heart.”
We are extremely grateful for Dr. Keidan’s many contributions to our department and our field, and we wish him the very best in retirement!