The University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology gathered to celebrate a significant milestone for its graduating residents on Saturday, June 14. The event, which took place at the Champion’s Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, was filled with heartfelt speeches, well-deserved awards, and emotional tributes. In addition to recognizing each of the resident graduates, the department presented several awards highlighting the exceptional contributions of residents, faculty, and CRNA/CAAs throughout the academic year.
Among those honored was Bobby Houston, M.D., one of the 2024–2025 chief residents, who received the Outstanding Resident Award for the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology. Reflecting on his final year, Houston shared, “It was an amazing year. I really got a chance to work on my leadership skills and I’m glad I had the opportunity to help out all my co-residents.”
Jessica Webber, M.D., shared Houston’s enthusiasm and expressed gratitude for her co-residents and department faculty. “Great group of people to work with, I felt comfortable asking everyone questions,” she said. “Everyone was super helpful, and I feel like I got really good training here and a wide variety of cases.”
One of the most poignant moments of the evening came as Greg Janelle, M.D., FASE, FASA, interim chair for the department, posthumously honored Michael Fowler, MBA, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and assistant program director for intern education, with the Chair’s Education Award. Fowler, who passed away on June 8, was unanimously selected for the award by department leadership in recognition of his lasting contributions as an educator and mentor. Known for his patience, kindness, and dedication to resident success, he will be deeply missed.
As graduates accepted their certificates from Tim Martin, M.D., MBA, associate chair for education, many paused to thank the loved ones and mentors who helped them along the way.
Houston offered a few words of advice to the next group of residents: “Make the most of it. The training goes by really fast. Just trust in your skills — UF is going to prepare you.”
Congratulations to each of our 24 resident graduates of the class of 2025!
View all of our award recipients below as well as where are graduating residents are going next.
Chair’s Awards
These recipients were selected by Interim Chair Greg Janelle, M.D., FASE, FASA, for outstanding service to the department.
Chair’s Education Award
Michael Fowler, M.D., MBA
best faculty member award
Michael Arnold, D.O.
Best Resident Award
Alisha Shah, M.D.
Chair’s Quality Award
Adam Wendling, M.D.
Unsung Hero Award
Soleil Schutte, M.D.
Chair’s Research Award
Catherine Price, Ph.D., ABPP-CN
Chair’s CRNA Award
Melissa Laguerre, CRNA
Chair’s CAA Award
Dia Kreuzer, CAA
Outstanding Resident Awards
The recipients of these awards were selected by departmental faculty.
Outstanding Senior Resident
Gabriella Williams, M.D.
Outstanding Junior Resident
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
Division Awards
These recipients were selected by the faculty in each division for outstanding achievement.
Acute Pain Medicine-Intern
Wendy Guo, M.D.
Acute Pain Medicine-CA1
Abigail Bawden, M.D.
Acute Pain Medicine-CA3
Meena Kanhai, M.D., and Alisha Shah, M.D.
Acute Pain Medicine-CA3 Honorable mention
Gabriella Williams, M.D.
Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology-CA2
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
CARDIOTHORACIC ANESTHESIOLOGY-CA3
Bobby Houston, M.D.
Critical Care Medicine
Talmage Wood, M.D.
Liver & Transplant Anesthesiology
Jon Vardanyan, M.D.
Multispecialty ANESTHESIOLOGY
Gabriella Williams, M.D.
Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine
Rachel Baker, M.D.
Neuroanesthesiology-CA2
Megan Koenig, M.D., and Taylor Gowen, M.D.
Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA)
McKai Wood, M.D.
Obstetric Anesthesiology
Alisha Shah, M.D.
PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGY
Meena Kanhai, M.D.
Perioperative Medicine-Intern
Justin George, M.D.
Transition to Practice
Meena Kanhai, M.D.
VA Anesthesiology Junior Resident-CA1
Aksana Aliakseyeva, M.D.
VA Anesthesiology Junior Resident-CA2
Andrew Burchak, M.D.
VA Anesthesiology Resident of the year
Linda Lange, M.D.
VA Pain Clinic Anesthesia Resident of the year
Caitlyn Hudson, M.D.
Resident and CRNA/CAA Awards
These recipients were selected by the residents and our CRNAs and CAAs.
CRNA and CAA Resident of the Year
Talmage Wood, M.D.
Distinguished Team Player
Talmage Wood, M.D.
Exceptional CRNA or CAA of the Year
John Muller, CRNA
Michael E. Mahla Exceptional Resident of the Year
Alisha Shah, M.D.
Teaching Awards
These recipients were selected by the graduating residents.
Haven M. Perkins Lifetime Teaching Award
Barys Ihnatsenka, M.D.
T.W. Andersen Teacher of the Year
David Hutchinson, M.D.
Resident Graduates
Our 2025 graduates and where they are going next.
- Nnamdi Achebe, M.D. — Dr. Achebe will join U.S. Anesthesia Partners.
- Stacia Andrews, M.D. — Dr. Andrews will join Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s in Milwaukee, WI.
- Tony Boateng, M.D. — Dr. Boateng will remain at UF for Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship.
- Kevin Clark, M.D. — Dr. Clark will remain at UF for Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship.
- Alex Horowitz, D.O. — Dr. Horowitz will remain at UF for Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship.
- Bobby Houston, M.D. — Dr. Houston will pursue an Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio.
- Robert Hutnik, M.D. — Dr. Hutnik will join Envision Anesthesiologists of Greater Orlando in Winter Garden, FL.
- Meena Kanhai, M.D. — Dr. Kanhai will remain at UF for Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship.
- Linda Lange, D.O. — Dr. Lange will join Naval Hospital Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL.
- Ashlyn Mason, M.D. — Dr. Mason will join U.S. Anesthesia Partners in Maitland, FL.
- Tyler McKenzie, M.D. — Dr. McKenzie will join North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, FL.
- Olesia Merinova, M.D. — Dr. Merinova will pursue a Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at the University of Alabama.
- Vanessa Metellus, M.D. — Dr. Metellus will join a private practice.
- Hamad Sagheer, M.D. — Dr. Sagheer will join UF Health Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL.
- Sayoni Saha, M.D. — Dr. Saha will pursue a Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship at Harvard, Boston’s Children Hospital.
- Alisha Shah, M.D. — Dr. Shah will remain at UF for Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship.
- Vlad Toropchyn, M.D. — Dr. Toropchyn will remain at UF for Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship.
- Georgeanna Tsoumas, D.O. — Dr. Tsoumas will join Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY.
- Andrew Tucker, II, D.O. — Dr. Tucker will join a private practice.
- Michael Walsh, M.D. — Dr. Walsh will join Cleveland Clinic – Hillcrest Hospital in Ohio.
- Jessica Webber, M.D. — Dr. Webber will be considering various career paths and opportunities.
- Gabriella Williams M.D. — Dr. Williams will join U.S. Anesthesia Partners in Orlando, FL.
- Tanner McKai Wood, M.D. — Dr. Wood will join Winchester Anesthesiologists, Inc. in Winchester, VA.
- Talmage Wood, M.D. — Dr. Wood will join Mountain West Anesthesia in Utah.
Learn more about our residency program.
