Two physicians joined our Critical Care Medicine Fellowship and three joined our Critical Care Medicine — Emergency Medicine Fellowship. Please help us in welcoming them to the Department of Anesthesiology!
IncomIng Critical Care Medicine Fellows
Kathleen Ehresmann, M.D., MBA
Ehresmann earned her medical degree and completed a general surgery residency here at the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine. Additionally, she has a Master of Business Administration from Jacksonville University in Florida, and she has a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages and Literatures from UF.
Ehresmann has an interest in transplant procedures and believes that a transplant program cannot succeed without a well-organized critical care team. For her fellowship here, she hopes to gain an in-depth understanding of managing patients with advanced critical care needs, like those who need mechanical ventilation and sepsis management.
Ehresmann retired from the United States Navy as a lieutenant commander. During her twenty-year military career, she held different roles, such as a naval reserve officer and operations department head. She also has medical and clinical volunteer experience. Her most recent volunteer experience took her on a medical outreach trip to Ecuador, where she conducted physicals and performed minor procedures.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and riding roller coasters.
Nicholas Laconi, M.D., M.S.
Laconi gained his medical degree and completed surgical residency and a surgical education fellowship here at the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UF and a Master of Science in Medical Sciences from the University of South Florida.
Laconi is currently an ad-hoc reviewer for the Cureus Journal of Medical Science, where he peer-reviews articles and provides constructive feedback for authors. He has extensive experience in teaching students here at the UF College of Medicine. For instance, he lectured fourth-year medical students in a course introducing learners to surgical instruments. In addition, he has acted as an in-situ simulation facilitator here at the college.
Incoming Critical care medicine — Emergency medicine Fellows
Osvaldo Duran-Melendez, M.D.
Duran-Melendez earned his medical degree at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) School of Medicine. During medical school, he was selected to become a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He completed his residency with the UPR Emergency Medicine residency program, where he was an academic chief resident. As a chief resident, he helped develop academic curriculum and coordinate simulation trainings. In addition, the UPR was also the school where he received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree. Recently, he finished an ultrasound fellowship with the University of Florida Department of Emergency Medicine.
By studying mechanical engineering, Duran-Melendez had the opportunity to learn about the medical devices industry as well as take courses in biomedical engineering and human anatomy. These experiences helped him discover medicine as a career option. His attention was first captured by emergency medicine, and then it gravitated to critical care medicine as he became more interested in the research and patient cases.
Through volunteering, Duran-Melendez has provided services and resources to communities hit by natural disasters. In 2020, he joined a medical brigade, tasked with helping earthquake-impacted communities in Peñuelas and Guánica, Puerto Rico. During this time, he provided health checkups and vaccination services to individuals.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading fantasy books, watching anime, and playing tennis.
Michael Oliver, M.D.
Oliver gained his medical degree at the California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM), where he was a clinical mentor. He completed his emergency medicine residency at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Arizona State University.
Oliver’s experience as an emergency medicine physician has furthered his interest in critical care medicine. He looks forward to the procedures and caring for critical patients. For his fellowship here, he hopes to improve his procedural repertoire and strengthen his leadership and teaching skills.
During Oliver’s time in medical school at CUSM, he founded and directed a program, called VIDA, that sought to increase the quality of healthcare services for Hispanic patients. For the VIDA program, he wrote grants and budget proposals as well as collaborated with university leadership to create an immersive medical school curriculum.
In his residency at Dell Medical School, Oliver helped the medical school with its admissions process. He interviewed medical school candidates and led social events for the prospective students.
In his free time, he enjoys football and traveling to new places. Some of his favorite experiences include running with bulls in Spain and volcano surfing in Nicaragua. In the future, he hopes to visit Greece, Italy, and Japan.
Rylee Pence, M.D.
Pence earned her medical degree at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. She recently finished her emergency medicine residency at the Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio, where she was an administrative chief resident. She also received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
Practicing emergency medicine has led to her interest in stabilization procedures and caring for patients with acute illness. Throughout her training, she became more interested in pursuing a career as an intensivist.
During her residency at Summa Health, she helped create curriculum for emergency medicine residents. She was also given the Research and Innovation Excellence Award in 2023 by Summa Health.