The University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology held the 2026 Residents’ Graduation and Awards Ceremony on June 6 at the Champion’s Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Residents and their families gathered with department members to celebrate this significant milestone.
In addition to recognizing each of our resident graduates, the department presented several awards highlighting the exceptional contributions of residents, faculty, and CRNA/CAAs throughout the academic year. One of these awards was the Michael A. Fowler, M.D., Anesthesiology Resident Award. This award was handed out for the first time this year in honor of Dr. Fowler, an associate professor and assistant program director for intern education, who passed away last year. The award was established by the Fowler family to honor his enduring commitment to education and mentorship within the field of anesthesiology.
As our graduates accepted their certificates from Timothy Martin, M.D., MBA, associate chair for education, many paused to thank the loved ones and mentors who helped them along the way.
Congratulations to each of our 25 resident graduates of the class of 2026!
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 Department Chair Gregory Janelle, M.D., FASE, FASA, for outstanding service to the department.
Best Resident Award
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
Chair’s Education Award
Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D., FSSH, FAIMBE
Chair’s Quality Award
Shakthi Venkatachalam, MBBS
Chair’s Research Award
Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D.
best faculty member award
Amir Jafari, D.O.
Unsung Hero Award
Thomas Guyton, M.D.
Chair’s CRNA Award
Francesca Massey, CRNA
Chair’s CAA Award
Spencer Dechert, MS, CAA
Outstanding Resident Awards
The recipients of these awards were selected by departmental faculty.
Outstanding Senior Resident
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
Outstanding Junior Resident
Caitlyn Hudson, M.D.
Michael A. Fowler, M.D., Anesthesiology Resident Award
Wendy Guo, M.D.
Division Awards
These recipients were selected by the faculty in each division for outstanding achievement.
Acute Pain Medicine-CA1
Wendy Guo, M.D.
Acute Pain Medicine-CA1
Paola Silva Enriquez, M.D.
Acute Pain Medicine-CA1
Ignacio Quintana, M.D.
Acute Pain Medicine-CA3
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
Acute Pain Medicine-CA3
Andrew Burchak, M.D.
CARDIOTHORACIC ANESTHESIOLOGY-CA2
Adedimeji Adepoju, M.D.
CARDIOTHORACIC ANESTHESIOLOGY-CA3
Kellen Creech, D.O.
CARDIOTHORACIC ANESTHESIOLOGY-CA3
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
Critical Care medicine-CA1
Justin Bowman, M.D.
Critical Care medicine-Intern
Omowonuola Ogundele, M.D.
Liver & Transplant Anesthesiology
Kyle Chan, M.D.
Multispecialty Anesthesiology
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
NeuroAnesthesiology
Xiao Rui Yang, M.D.
Non-Operating Room ANESTHESIOLOGY (NORA)
Kevin Marfiak, D.O.
Obstetric Anesthesiology
Taylor Gowen, M.D.
Pain Medicine
Paola Silva Enriquez, M.D.
Pediatric Anestehsiology-CA2
Alexandra Carroll, M.D.
Pediatric Anestehsiology-CA3
Abigail Schirmer, M.D.
Perioperative Medicine-CA1
Wendy Guo, M.D.
Perioperative Medicine-Intern
Zachary Schroeder, D.O.
Transition to Practice
Taylor Gowen, M.D.
VA Anesthesiology Junior Resident of the Year
Aksana Aliakseyeva, M.D.
VA Anesthesiology Senior Resident of the year
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
VA Pain Clinic Anesthesia Resident of the year
Rasheedat Zakare-Fagbamila, M.D.
Resident and CRNA/CAA Awards
These recipients were selected by the residents and our CRNAs and CAAs.
Michael E. Mahla Exceptional Resident of the Year
Allyson Tragesser, M.D.
Distinguished Team Player
Casey Taylor, D.O.
CRNA and CAA Resident of the Year
Taylor Gowen, M.D.
Exceptional CRNA or CAA of the Year
Lynn Leonard, CAA
Teaching Awards
These recipients were selected by the graduating residents.
T.W. Andersen Teacher of the Year
Anthony Barrios, M.D.
Haven M. Perkins Lifetime Teaching Award
Joshua Sappenfield, M.D.
Resident Graduates
Our 2026 graduates and where they are going next:
- Steven Ayala, M.D. — Dr. Ayala will join Good Samaritan in West Palm Beach, FL.
- Akosua Ayesu-Offei, M.D. — Dr. Ayesu-Offei will join the University of Alabama.
- Michael Berentzen, M.D. — Dr. Berentzen will remain at UF for Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship.
- Andrew Burchak, M.D. — Dr. Burchak will join Naval Medical Center in San Diego, CA.
- Christopher Cavazos, M.D. — Dr. Cavazos will join US Anesthesia Partners in Arlington, TX.
- Kyle Chan, M.D. — Dr. Chan will remain at UF as a faculty member.
- Kellen Creech, D.O. — Dr. Creech will remain at UF for Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship.
- Camila Gonzalez, D.O. — Dr. Gonzalez will join Imperial Point Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
- Taylor Gowen, M.D. — Dr. Gowen will join Alta Anesthesia Associates in Brunswick, GA.
- Zeerak Khan, M.D. — Dr. Khan will join University of Alabama in Birmingham.
- Megan Koenig, M.D. — Dr. Koenig will join Providence Anesthesiology Associates in Hickory, NC.
- Jessica Mandel, M.D. — Dr. Mandel will join Physician Anesthesiology Services in Denver, CO.
- Kevin Marfiak, D.O.— Dr. Marfiak will join UF Health – Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, FL.
- Elizabeth Miller, M.D. — Dr. Miller will remain at UF for Adult Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Fellowship.
- Cameron Myers, M.D. — Dr. Myers will join Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital in Wesley Chapel, FL.
- Sneha Raola, M.D. — Dr. Raola will join Buena Vista Anesthesia Medical Group in Pasadena, CA.
- Abigail Schirmer, M.D. — Dr. Schirmer will remain at UF for Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship.
- Jarrett Schmidt, D.O. — Dr. Schmidt will join Advent Health in Tampa, FL.
- Dylan Schoo, M.D. — Dr. Schoo will join Naval Medical Center in Camp Lejeune, NC.
- Ahmed Shoola, M.D. — Dr. Shoola will join Uniontown Hospital in Uniontown, PA.
- Casey Taylor, D.O. — Dr. Taylor will join the United States Air Force.
- Allyson Tragesser, M.D. — Dr. Tragesser will remain at UF for Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship.
- Jon Vardanyan, M.D. — Dr. Vardanyan will join Seven Hills Anesthesia in Cincinnati, OH.
- Eduardo Walker, M.D. — Dr. Walker will pursue his pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital.
- Chengcheng Zheng, M.D. — Dr. Zheng will remain at UF for Critical Care Medicine Fellowship.
Learn more about our residency program.
