F. Kayser Enneking, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery, is retiring from the University of Florida College of Medicine after more than three decades of service. Enneking received her medical degree from UF in 1986 before completing anesthesiology residency at the University of Texas and a regional anesthesia fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She returned to us in 1991 as an assistant professor in the UF Department of Anesthesiology and has since become an indispensable pillar of our faculty, a visionary leader, and a mentor to countless clinicians and scholars.
Enneking became a full professor in 2003, holding a joint appointment with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Between 2008 and 2013, she chaired the Department of Anesthesiology while also serving as assistant dean for clinical affairs for the College of Medicine. Throughout, she managed the Florida Surgical Center, guiding it through a critical ten‑year transformation. More recently, she has continued to step into interim leadership roles when stable guidance was needed: chairing the Department of Dermatology, chairing research for the Department of Anesthesiology, and directing perioperative affairs. Her commitment to the welfare of her colleagues is further evidenced by her efforts in expanding UF Baby Gator Child Development Center to Newell Drive, which provides on-site childcare to those in the College of Medicine.
One of Enneking’s most enduring legacies in the Department of Anesthesiology is her creation and stewardship of three vital divisions: the Division of Regional Anesthesia (1995), the Division of Ambulatory Anesthesia (2000), and the Division of Perioperative Medicine (2015), as well as her creation of the Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship. These units have shaped the way we teach our trainees, deliver care, and conduct research nationwide. Additionally, as a testament to her dedication in furthering the research mission of the department, Enneking created and was a major contributor to the Gravenstein Scholars Program, a research scholar residency track named in honor of the Gravenstein family.
Enneking’s scholarship efforts include 68 peer‑reviewed articles (44 as first or senior author), two edited books, 25 book chapters, and 35 peer‑reviewed abstracts. A co‑inventor on U.S. Patent 12,029,861, she has also contributed to advances in drainage system design. Her editorial service spans leading anesthesiology journals, and she has delivered 194 invited talks at professional meetings worldwide.
Enneking pioneered the regional anesthesia block room, a systems-based innovation, leading to higher regional anesthesia block success rates, improved quality and safety, and higher patient satisfaction. Furthermore, one of her most significant contributions to the field of anesthesiology is her pioneering work in the use of peripheral nerve blocks for outpatient surgery. This innovation revolutionized the recovery process for patients, enabling them to recover in the comfort of their homes without pain.
In 2023, she received the UF College of Medicine’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Women in Medicine and Science Diamond Award, both testifying to her impact on patient care, research, and the broader community. Nationally, she has been celebrated by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia with the Trailblazer Award, the Distinguished Service Award, and the Gaston Labat Award, underscoring her lifelong dedication to regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Her contributions will continue to resonate at the UF College of Medicine and beyond.