Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., the Jerome H. Modell, M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology, and professor of neurosurgery and periodontology, has been named a Distinguished Professor by the University of Florida (UF). This award is one of UF’s highest faculty recognitions and is held by only seven other College of Medicine faculty members.
Gravenstein earned this rank due to an exceptional record of achievement in teaching, research and publication, and professional and public service that is recognized both nationally and internationally. Gregory M. Janelle, M.D., FASE, FASA, interim chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, noted that the faculty of the department unanimously supported Gravenstein’s candidacy.
In announcing UF’s new Distinguished Professors, interim provost Joseph Glover, Ph.D., highlighted Gravenstein’s patient care efforts and his role in laying down the foundation for certain procedures to take place here: “He developed specialized clinical teams to care for many clinical ‘firsts’ at UF and in Florida, including patients receiving the first adult heart transplant, first liver transplant, and the first pediatric umbilical cord transfusion.”
While it is difficult to list all of Gravenstein’s accomplishments, the following achievements and efforts provide a brief look into his distinguished career.
Patient Care
Gravenstein’s primary work throughout the last three decades has focused on patient care improvements. He has performed more anesthetic procedures than any other faculty member at UF and has covered a diverse range of cases from simple to highly complex. In 2022, he received the David A. Paulus Award for Clinical Excellence, which recognized his broad clinical activity and patient-centered approach.
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought numerous challenges to frontline medical providers worldwide, Janelle wrote that Gravenstein “demonstrated resilience and innovation by quickly adapting clinical operations.” He played an important role in the local mass production of personal protection equipment, including N95-type masks and face shields. He also created a hospital-wide emergency ventilator plan to prepare for potential ventilator shortages. In 2020, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) awarded him their COVID-19 Appreciation Award for his dedication, selflessness, and expertise during the pandemic.
In 2018, Gravenstein played a crucial role in bringing the PulsePoint Respond phone application to Alachua County. This application strives to increase bystander CPR participation by alerting cellphone geofences within 250 yards of an identified cardiac arrest where 911 has been notified. By encouraging the use of this tool, he has helped improve the survival odds of these individuals.
Teaching and Mentoring
Gravenstein’s teaching methods consistently receive high evaluations from his students and mentees.
“There are extraordinary people who influence the path of science and knowledge and who also impact profoundly the course of other people’s lives in a positive way. Nik is one of those unique people,” said Sandra N. Gonzalez, M.D., FAAP, assistant professor of anesthesiology, who joined the department as a resident during Gravenstein’s time as the chair. “He’s not only an incredibly intelligent and talented scientist and clinician; he’s a master in the true sense of the word, someone who lifts up his students and colleagues academically and beyond.”
Abby Schirmer, M.D., CA-3 resident, highlighted the tutelage she has received from Gravenstein: “The magic of Nik Gravenstein is his remarkable ability not only to teach and guide anyone through anything but to do so in a way that builds confidence and inspires growth along the way.”
Schirmer also described the way Gravenstein’s impact is felt in the hospital: “That feeling of belonging—the sense of being ‘at home’ in the fluorescent-lit halls of a hospital—is hard to come by. And yet, since the fall of 2015, I’ve felt exactly that, uniquely in this place. I believe a key reason is the impact Dr. Gravenstein has had within these halls, imparting a bit of ‘magic’ on everyone around him.”
Gravenstein’s teaching efforts have also garnered him numerous awards. “Dr. Gravenstein has won our annual departmental teaching award so often (2016, 2015, 2014, 2011-2012, 1994-1995, 1984-1985) that he personally requested removal from all future consideration for the award,” wrote Janelle. This year his mentorship efforts were rewarded with the Dr. Mavis Agbandje-McKenna Distinguished Research Mentoring Award.
“I have had very few mentors who have had as much of an impact on my education and career as Nik Gravenstein, and I know I am one of many who can say this,” said Timothy Feldheim, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology. “Nik has always been someone to turn to with any problem. Whether it be how to manage a complicated patient in the OR, how to obtain funding or resources for research, or guidance in preparing publications or lectures, he is always there to graciously offer advice and guidance.”
Gravenstein helped create the curriculum for and continues to lead simulation exercises for the purpose of board recertification of anesthesiologists enrolled in the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) Maintenance of Certification (MOCA®). Anesthesiologists from around the country travel to UF to attend day-long educational simulation sessions at the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies. We are one of only a few sites in the southeastern United States that are endorsed by the ABA to offer such educational courses.
Research and Publication
Gravenstein has made numerous technological advancements in the field of medicine and beyond. He created a new piece of technology in pulse oximetry that is produced and distributed globally by Philips Medical. Additionally, he developed a cooling and ventilation system for football uniforms. This patented method has been adopted by the NCAA and NFL for athlete use, thus improving player health and safety.
Gravenstein’s knowledge and research expertise are also shown through his large body of written work: he has authored or coauthored 10 textbooks, 36 book chapters, over 240 peer-reviewed publications, and over 50 patents. In the past five years, he has brought in $1.98 million in grant funding to the department.
Service
Gravenstein serves on a multitude of college, hospital, national, and international committees and organizations. To name a few, he is a part of the Operating Room Safety Committee, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, and the ASA. He has served as the medical director for the Florida Academic Healthcare Patient Safety Organization since 2014. His involvement in these organizations shows his commitment to the fields of medicine and anesthesiology, patient safety, education, and professional ethics.
On behalf of UF, Gravenstein has aided the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during space shuttle launches. Relatedly, he was at the forefront of a project to understand the clinical problems of astronauts in space. In 2023, his dedication and leadership were recognized with the NASA Engineering and Safety Center Leadership Award.
In 2020, Gravenstein received the UF College of Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award, which lauded him for his outstanding contributions and service.
History with UF
Gravenstein earned his medical degree from the UF College of Medicine in 1980. He went to the University of Minnesota to do a surgery internship and then returned to complete his anesthesiology residency and fellowship here in the Department of Anesthesiology.
In 1983, Gravenstein joined the department’s faculty, and he was promoted to professor of anesthesiology in 1992. In 1997, he was named the Jerome H. Modell, M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology and chair of the department. He held the position of chair until 2008. Currently, he is the lead clinical advisor for the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies and director of the North American Malignant Hyperthermia Registry. He also holds joint appointments as a professor of neurosurgery and professor of periodontology.
Gravenstein’s achievements and efforts are a testament to his commitment to improving the field of anesthesiology, our department, UF, and our local and global communities.
Feldheim remarked: “If I accomplish half as much as Nik Gravenstein has, I would consider my career a success.”