All Posts by

Christina Hendricks

2024 Match Day results

We are thrilled to announce the results of the 2024 NRMP Match! The UF Department of Anesthesiology successfully matched with twenty 4-year residents, three 3-year residents, and one “advanced commitment” physician who will begin training with us as a CA-1 in July 2025. Five of our incoming interns are from…

Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D, voted into the Society of Teaching Scholars

Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology and director of the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT), has been voted into the University of Florida Society of Teaching Scholars (STS) by current society members. “We recognize your ongoing commitment to education and know that you will continue to…

Tatsiana Kryvitskaya, M.D., elected into Alpha Omega Alpha

Congratulations to Tatsiana Kryvitskaya, M.D., for being elected into the University of Florida College of Medicine Chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honor Medical Society! Kryvitskaya is in her fourth year of residency and is currently one of our chief residents. The AΩA society was founded in 1902 and is the…

Tom Guyton, M.D., joins the department

Tom Guyton, M.D., rejoined the UF Department of Anesthesiology faculty this month as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Guyton earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his anesthesiology residency here at the University of Florida. After completing an NIH Training Grant at the…

Cyndi Garvan, Ph.D., on research team funded by NIDCR

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has awarded a five-year, $3,692,175 grant to the University of Florida College of Dentistry and the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine. This funding aims to establish an academic multidisciplinary practice-based research network within and between the two dental schools.

Modell-Shah Lecture in Anesthesiology focuses on AI

The Jerome H. Modell, M.D., – Dinesh O. Shah, Ph.D., Annual Lecture in Anesthesiology returned this year after a three-year hiatus. The third annual lecture featured a discussion on artificial intelligence in anesthesiology presented by Maxime Cannesson, M.D., Ph.D. Doctors Graves, Cannesson, Janelle, and Modave The lecture, titled “Artificial Intelligence…

AI-Enhanced Anesthesiology Part Two: Educating Future Health Care Providers

In part one  of our examination of the development and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in anesthesiology, we took a look at clinical initiatives related to enhancing patient care with AI technologies. In part two, we look at the efforts by our Department of Anesthesiology colleagues to educate health…

AI-Enhanced Anesthesiology Part One: The Future of Patient Care

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative force in medicine, promising to revolutionize health care. The potential of AI to enhance the field of anesthesiology extends beyond data research and analysis to clinical technologies and decision support. A number of initiatives within the UF College of Medicine’s Department of…

A Q&A with Timothy W. Martin, M.D., associate chair for education

Timothy W. Martin, M.D., MBA, professor of anesthesiology, associate chair for education, and chief of the Pediatric Anesthesiology Division, sat down with us to discuss his career in anesthesiology and the UF anesthesiology education programs he leads. Q: 00:35 What was your time in the medical field like before…

Department welcomes residents’ loved ones to Family Anesthesiology Day

Family and friends of our anesthesiology residents got a glimpse of the day-to-day life of a resident at the third annual Family Anesthesiology Day. Residency program director Tim Martin, M.D., MBA, and assistant program director Michael Fowler, M.D., MBA, led some introductory discussion with the help of a panel of…

ECMO emphasized in fifth annual Critical Care Medicine Boot Camp

Fourteen fellows and six residents from five different departments came together in August for the fifth annual Critical Care Medicine (CCM) Boot Camp. “This year we had an emphasis on simulation training with an expansion of our ECMO simulations,” said Peggy White, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and program…

Residents receive 100% pass rate on BASIC exam

In June, twenty-two of our residents took the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) BASIC Examination for the first time and all twenty-two of them passed, giving us a 100% pass rate!   BASIC is the first written exam of the ABA board certification process and is administered to approximately 1,600…

Department appoints clinical directors of research

UF Department of Anesthesiology leadership have appointed several clinical directors of research with the goal of increasing research and scholarly activity across the department’s clinical divisions. These new leadership positions were created to develop a cohort of clinicians with an in-depth knowledge of research resources and methodologies. “The role of…

2023 pain medicine fellows join the department

Six physicians began their Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Michael Aiello, D.O. Dr. Aiello earned his medical degree at Western University of Health Science. He completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville,…

Five faculty promoted in 2023

Five of our amazing faculty were promoted this year, effective July 1, 2023. Congratulations to Linda Le-Wendling, M.D., Basma Mohamed, MBChB, Cameron Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Jose Soberon, M.D., and Patrick Tighe, M.D., M.S.! Le-Wendling and Tighe have been promoted to the rank of clinical professor and professor, respectively. Mohamed and…

New Residents join us in 2023

It’s that time of year once more! Our halls are lively with the arrival of fresh faces, as a new cohort of residents and fellows joins our ranks. In our unwavering commitment to education, we seek out the most exceptional and talented individuals to become part of the University of…

Leveraging artificial intelligence to improve patient safety and care quality

At the UF College of Medicine, physician-scientists are leveraging artificial intelligence to model the expansive clinician-clinician network, creating a robust patient safety graph capturing the almost infinite interactions between caregivers. Patrick Tighe, MD, MS, is the associate dean for AI application and innovation at the College of Medicine and the project champion for the AI-QI initiative under the college’s strategic plan. We sat down with Tighe to discuss these groundbreaking AI-QI programs and how they can help physicians enhance quality in health care.

François Modave, Ph.D., Selected to be Associate Chair of Research

We are thrilled to announce that François Modave, Ph.D., has been chosen by department leadership to serve as our associate chair of research starting July 1. Dr. Modave envisions a future where our department can lead in building clinical informatics to support our research mission. He believes that tight…

Department of Anesthesiology Focuses on Research During Annual Event

The 2023 Department of Anesthesiology Celebration of Research was held on March 29 to showcase the department’s exceptional research and encourage collaboration and mentorship. There were more than 100 attendees, including faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students. The event took place at the UF Health south tower conference rooms, where…

2023 IHAF Winners

Congratulations to Cole Dooley, M.D., Christopher Samouce, Ph.D., and Soleil Schutte, M.D., who have received IHAF 2023 Education Awards from the I. Heermann Anesthesia Foundation (IHAF). The purpose of IHAF is to encourage and support scholarly pursuits designed to enhance the field of anesthesia through clinical research, laboratory research,…

Residency Match 2023

We are thrilled to announce the results of the 2023 NRMP Match!  We successfully matched with 20 categorical (4-year) residents, including five from the University of Florida College of Medicine. Additionally, we matched with four “reserved for physician” (3-year) residents and one “advanced” physician who will begin training at…

Olga “Kiki” Nin, M.D., Appointed Assistant Chair for Clinical Services

We are pleased to announce Olga “Kiki” Nin, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and medical director of the UF Health Florida Surgical Center (FSC), has been appointed assistant chair for clinical services for the Department of Anesthesiology in the University of Florida College of Medicine. In this new role,…

Brenda Fahy, M.D., Voted into UF Society of Teaching Scholars

Brenda Fahy, M.D., MCCM, professor of anesthesiology, associate chair of faculty affairs and professional development, and program director of the Adult Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Fellowship, has been voted into the University of Florida Society of Teaching Scholars. Current members of the Society chose to…

2023-2024 Chief Residents Selected

We are pleased to announce our four new chief anesthesiology residents for the upcoming academic year. Tony Barrios, M.D., Jennifer Bromwell, D.O., Paul Campbell, M.D., and Tatsiana Kryvitskaya, M.D., will serve from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. “We are very fortunate to have this group of very talented…

Interns Complete 2023 Intern Education Month

Every year our anesthesiology interns go through a four-week rotation that is focused solely on didactics and simulations called Intern Education Month. The rotation also introduces the residents to available resources that can help them clinically and academically. Sprinkled throughout are wellness activities so that classmates can form closer relationships…

Happy 2023 CAA Week!

The UF Department of Anesthesiology is joining healthcare providers nationwide in recognizing the unique skills of our certified anesthesiology assistants (CAAs) during National CAA Week. As valued members of our anesthesia team, our CAAs play a critical role in the care of patients undergoing surgical procedures. We appreciate the…

January 2023 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our January 2023 Resident of the Month: Georgeanna Tsoumas, D.O., CA-1! Dr. Tsoumas was nominated by her fellow residents and faculty for her hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in her duties. Below are some of the quotes from her nominations.

Martin Noguera, M.S., Honored with UF Superior Accomplishment Award

We are pleased to announce that Martin Noguera, M.S., Research Administrator II, has been honored with the 2023 UF Superior Accomplishment Award for his outstanding contributions to our department and institution! The Superior Accomplishment Awards program is designed to recognize outstanding faculty and staff for their dedication to their…

Resident Gives Back on Mission Trip to Honduras

In the spring of 2022, Karolain Garcia, M.D., currently a fourth-year anesthesiology resident, took her anesthesia talents to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to aid in the surgical repair of cleft lips and palates. Interplast South, a non-profit organization of physicians and nurses, organizes yearly mission trips to the Ruth Paz…

Ben Chapin, M.D., Joins Faculty

Ben Chapin, M.D., a cognitive-behavioral neurologist who previously was a research fellow with the UF Health Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN), has joined the department as an assistant professor. Prior to stepping into his new role, he took part in the Integrative and Multidisciplinary Pain and Aging Research Training…

January 2023 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in January 2023! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Morey, Gravenstein, Seubert, Vasilopoulos, Martynyuk, Nin, Smith, Tighe, Price, Garvan, Reynolds, Frantz, Fahy, Przkora and Maybauer. Anesthesiology Ju LS, Zhu J, Brant JO, Morey TE, Gravenstein N, Seubert CN, Vasilopoulos T, Setlow B,…

Study Awarded Best Abstract by International Anesthesia Research Society

The study from the lab of Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., titled “Neonatally sevoflurane-exposed and unexposed male rat cagemates affect each other’s neurodevelopmental phenotypes” has been accepted with the distinction of Kosaka Best Abstract Award Top Finalist for presentation at the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) 2023 Annual Meeting. The Kosaka…

Marc Maybauer, M.D., Ph.D., Joins the Department

Marc Oliver Maybauer, M.D., Ph.D., joined us in January as professor of anesthesiology and chief of our Critical Care Medicine Division. In addition, he will assume the responsibilities of Executive Director of the Critical Care Organization at UF and Director of the Anesthesiology ECMO Program. Before joining us, Dr. Maybauer…

New CSSALT Simulator Shows Dynamic Changes in Blood Pressure

A new online simulator developed by the University of Florida’s Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) provides a platform for learning how specific factors can impact non-invasive blood pressure measurement. The Simulation of Blood Pressure Measurement Hydrostatic Artifact* was…

Resident Academic Days Praised for Positive Impact

Protecting academic time for residents has been an important concern in the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology. The numerous administrative tasks, duty logs and surveys, as well as training related to compliance, insurance billing, HIPAA and other areas require time that can be challenging to find while residents take…

December 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our December 2022 Resident of the Month: Gabriella Williams, M.D., CA-1! Dr. Williams was nominated by her fellow residents and faculty for her hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in her duties. Below are some of the quotes from her nominations.

Happy 2023 CRNA Week!

The UF Department of Anesthesiology is joining healthcare providers nationwide in recognizing the unique skills of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) during National CRNA Week. Our CRNAs are a vital part of our anesthesiology team. We are continually grateful for their hard work, flexibility and commitment to our patients,…

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., Named Statistical Editor for Journal of Clinical Anesthesia

Congratulations to Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery & sports medicine, for being named a statistical editor for the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia (JCA)! In this role, Dr. Vasilopoulos will review submitted papers for statistical quality as well as organize, write and solicit editorials on statistical…

Gregory M. Janelle, M.D., FASE, FASA, Appointed Interim Chair of Anesthesiology

We are pleased to announce that Gregory M. Janelle, M.D., FASE, FASA, has been appointed interim chair of the department of anesthesiology. In his new role, Dr. Janelle will provide leadership for anesthesiology’s residency and fellowship programs, interdisciplinary research programs and clinical services, and will oversee faculty development and administrative…

Tim Morey, M.D., Named CMO for UF Health Shands

We are excited to announce that Tim Morey, M.D., our department chair for the past ten years, has been named chief medical officer for UF Health Shands and senior associate dean for clinical affairs for the UF College of Medicine. Since 2013, Dr. Morey has served as chair of the…

Nishanthi Kandiah, M.D., and Karisa Walker, M.D., MEd, Join the Department

Nishanthi Kandiah, M.D., and Karisa Walker, M.D., M.Ed., both joined the department in January in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology. Nishanthi Kandiah, M.D., joined the department in January as an assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology. Before joining us, she worked as an assistant professor of anesthesiology…

December 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in December 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Schutte, Smith, Le-Wendling, Maybauer, Enneking, Goettel, Vasilopoulos, Fahy, Mohamed, Zasimovich, Franklin, and Robicsek. Cureus Schutte S, Nimma SR, Smith CR, Le-Wendling L. Gastric Emptying of Orange Juice With and Without Pulp: A…

November 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our November 2022 Resident of the Month: EJ Collins, M.D., CA-2! Dr. Collins was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for his hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in his duties. Below are some of the quotes from his nominations.

Medicine’s New Frontier

Clinicians and researchers aim to combine expertise with artificial intelligence to improve patients' lives. Patrick Tighe, MD, MS, the associate dean for AI application & innovation and an associate professor of anesthesiology, Chris Giordano, MD, an associate professor of anesthesiology, and Francois Modave, PhD, a professor of AI in the department of anesthesiology, are leaders on a team of College of Medicine faculty who are developing a comprehensive AI curriculum aimed at clinicians, students and trainees who want to learn more about ways to incorporate data and machine learning into patient care.

November 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in November 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Smith, Schutte, Doré, Austin, Wardhan, Gravenstein, Jeff White, Frantz, Tighe, Goettel, Price, Gonzalez, Cruz Beltran, Edwards, and Dooley. Anesthesiology Brian M. Ilfeld, Cameron R. Smith, Alparslan Turan, Edward R. Mariano, Matthew E. Miller,…

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., Receives Best Paper Award

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery & sports medicine, was a co-author on a paper that received an honorable mention for the 2022 PM&R Best Paper Award. The award was given by PM&R, The Journal of Injury, Function and Rehabilitation (The Purple Journal) for the paper titled…

Jeanelle Brown, M.D., Joins UF Health – Halifax Health

Jeanelle Brown, M.D., joined us in December 2022 as the chief of anesthesia at UF Health – Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, Florida. She previously worked as an anesthesiologist for North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville as well as Florida Hospital Flagler, Florida Hospital Orlando and Avera St. Luke’s Hospital…

Yiu-Hei (Adrian) Ching, M.D., Joins the Department

Yiu-Hei (Adrian) Ching, M.D., joined us in December as an assistant professor of anesthesiology in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Before joining us, he worked as a clinical anesthesiologist for HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. Dr. Ching earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He…

Thorsten Haas, M.D., Joins Department as Director of Patient Blood Management

Thorsten Haas, M.D., joined us in November as director of patient blood management and professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Dr. Haas joined us from Munich Municipal Hospital Group in Munich, Germany, where he served as a senior attending in pediatric anesthesiology. Dr. Haas earned his medical degree…

10 Faculty Honored as 2022 Exemplary Teacher Award Winners

We are pleased to announce that 10 of our faculty received the Exemplary Teacher Award for 2022. Eligible faculty are nominated from each department and participate in a college-wide competition. Faculty are selected based on the excellence of their teaching of medical students, residents and fellows, graduate students, and…

October 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our October 2022 Resident of the Month: Paul Campbell, M.D., CA-2! Dr. Campbell was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for his hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in his duties. Below are some of the quotes from his nominations.

Thomas Austin, M.D., Elected Associate Editor for A&A

Congratulations to Thomas Austin, M.D., M.S., professor of anesthesiology and associate chief of our Pediatric Anesthesiology Division, for being elected an Associate Editor for Statistics for the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia. As an Associate Editor, Austin will review two manuscripts a month. Anesthesia & Analgesia is one of the top…

October 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in October 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Austin, Doré, Garvan, Price and Reynolds. Spine Deformity Ruska T, Austin TM, Bruce RW Jr, Fletcher ND. Post-operative steroids in patients with patients with severe cerebral palsy undergoing posterior spinal fusion. Spine…

Celebrate Nurse Practitioner Week 2022

The UF Department of Anesthesiology is joining healthcare providers nationwide in recognizing the unique skills of our nurse practitioners during National NP Week! Our nurse practitioners provide safe and high-quality care to our patients each and every day. Their teamwork and support contributes to our outstanding patient experience and…

UF Health Shands Wins Two National Awards for Environmental Sustainability

UF Health Shands was recently honored with two Environmental Excellence Awards from Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care. These awards recognize UF Health Shands for its achievements and innovation in health care sustainability.

Dr. Ihnatsenka debuts difficult neuraxial procedure workshop at ASA annual meeting

A difficult neuraxial procedure workshop was debuted by the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology at the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) annual meeting in New Orleans in October 2022. Barys Ihnatsenka, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, led the workshop which featured two human models, two thoracic anesthesia simulators and…

Yahya Acar, M.D., Receives Second Place at TASCON

Yahya Acar, M.D., a Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) fellow, was awarded second place on his oral presentation at the Trauma Anesthesiology Congress (TASCON) in New Orleans this October. His presentation, titled “Assessment of a Mixed Reality Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) Training…

September Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our September 2022 Resident of the Month: Matthew Frakes, D.O., CA-3! Dr. Frakes was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for his hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in his duties. Below are some of the quotes from his nominations.

September 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in September 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Chembrovich, Wardhan, Smith, Vasilopoulos, Trippensee, Brennan, Wendling, Tighe, and Peng. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Chembrovich S, Wardhan R, Smith CR. Reply to Letter to the Editor: Preoperative Peripheral…

CSSALT Leads Simulation Workshop for Medical Students

In October, the Center for Safety, Simulation and Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) worked with the Student Initiative in Medical Simulation (SIMS) to host a simulation workshop for first- and second-year medical students to provide exposure to crucial skills that they can translate to patient care in their third year.

In Memoriam: Lawrence “Larry” Berman, M.D.

Lawrence “Larry” Berman, M.D., emeritus associate professor of anesthesiology, passed away October 15, 2022. Dr. Berman was a faculty member with the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology for more than 30 years starting in 1978 until his retirement in 2010. Even after retirement, Dr. Berman continued to work with…

Abstract by Pain Medicine Team Chosen as ASRA President’s Choice

Congratulations to Rene Przkora, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and chief of our Pain Medicine Division, and his co-authors for their abstract being selected as a highlighted President’s Choice abstract for the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) Annual Meeting! The abstract titled “Longitudinal Outcomes of Repeated…

Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., Awarded R01 Grant

Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology and neuroscience, has been awarded a five-year R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health. Martynyuk is the principal investigator on the project titled “Mechanisms and blood-based biomarkers of intergenerational neurobehavioral effects of general anesthetics.” Co-investigators are Timothy Morey, M.D., professor and chair…

Residents Selected for the ASA Resident House of Delegates

Three of our residents have been selected to represent Florida and the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology at the 2022 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Resident Component House of Delegates! Paul Campbell, M.D., Alex Horowitz, D.O., and Andy Neff, D.O., have been chosen to fill three of the Florida…

Celebrating National PA Week

The UF Department of Anesthesiology is joining healthcare providers nationwide in recognizing the unique skills of our physician assistants during National PA Week. We appreciate the safe, high-quality care our PAs provide to our patients every day. Thank you for everything you do that contributes to our outstanding patient experience…

CT Fellowship Grads pass Advanced Perioperative TEE exam

Congratulations to the four recent graduates of our Cardiothoracic Fellowship program, Clifford Deerman, M.D., Brandon Duffin, D.O., Jayme Looper, M.D., and Shauna Schwartz, D.O., and our Cardiothoracic/Critical Care Medicine fellow, Ahmad Parniani, M.D., for successfully passing their Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography examination (Advanced PTEeXAM®)! The examination of special competence, which is administered…

Drs. Berkow and Urdaneta Receive Honors from the Society of Airway Management

Lauren Berkow, M.D., FASA, professor of anesthesiology and chief of the division of neuroanesthesia, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award and Felipe Urdaneta, M.D., professor of anesthesiology, was recognized for completing his two-year term as president of the Society of Airway Management (SAM) at the SAM annual meeting in Tucson,…

APSF Launching Technology Education Initiative Using Software Developed at CSSALT

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) in collaboration with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) will be debuting an online Technology Education Initiative using simulation software developed by our department’s Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT). The first course of that initiative, Low-Flow Anesthesia, will…

Prodip Bose, M.D., Ph.D., Named BRRC Interim Director

Prodip Bose, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, neurology and physiological sciences and director of the MRI & Translational Neurotrauma Rehabilitation Lab, has been named interim director of the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center of Excellence (BRRC) at the Malcom Randall Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center (MRVAMC). Dr. Bose was selected…

August 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in August 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Mehta, Robicsek, Seubert, Edwards, Gravenstein, Martin, Vasilopoulos, Tighe, Loeb, Doré, Zasimovich, and Goettel. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Cox EA, Nichols DS, Riklan JE, Pomputius A, Mehta SD, Mast BA, Furnas H, Canales F, Sorice-Virk…

August Resident of the Month: Christopher Henson, M.D.

Please help us congratulate our August 2022 Resident of the Month: Christopher Henson, M.D., CA-2! Dr. Henson was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for his hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in his duties. Below are some of the quotes from his nominations.

Thomas Austin, M.D., M.S. Stat., Joins Faculty

Thomas Austin, M.D., M.S. Stat., joined us on Sept. 15 as professor and associate chief in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia. He joins us from Emory University, where he has served as associate professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics since 2018. Dr. Austin earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School…

Penny Reynolds, Ph.D., Honored with Global 3Rs Award

Congratulations to Penny Reynolds, Ph.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, for winning the 2022 IQ Consortium and AAALAC International Global 3Rs Award for her paper, published in PLoS One in January 2022, titled “Effects of non-aversive versus tail-lift handling on breeding productivity in a C57BL/6J mouse colony.” Reynolds shares the…

Dr. Mohamed Accepted into Physician Well-Being Director Course

Basma Mohamed, MBChB Basma Mohamed, MBChB, assistant professor of anesthesiology and assistant program director for resident wellness, has been accepted into the Stanford Medicine WellMD & WellPhD Physician Well-Being Director Course. This virtual, six-week course endeavors to empower participants to catalyze meaningful local change, employ best practices, and help improve…

Abstract by Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., Selected as a “Best of Abstracts” at ASA

Congratulations to Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., and his lab for having their abstract accepted into the Best of Abstracts: Basic Science session at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 2022 Annual Meeting! The scientific abstract titled “Intergenerational Effects of Surgery and Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Young Adult Rats with Traumatic…

Svitlana Smolenchuk, M.D., Ph.D., Joins Faculty

Svitlana (Lana) Smolenchuk, M.D., Ph.D., joined us on Sept. 1 as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. She joins us from the University of New Mexico, where she completed anesthesiology residency this year and served as a chief resident. Dr. Smolenchuk earned her medical degree from Luhansk…

Mark Bender, M.D., Joins Halifax Health

Mark Bender, M.D., joined us on Aug. 15 as a UF Health physician in chronic pain medicine for the regional anesthesia program at UF Health Pain Medicine – Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, Florida. In this role, Dr. Bender will play a key role in expanding the UF Health Pain…

Three Faculty Certified as Mentoring Consultants

Brenda G. Fahy, M.D., MCCM, Cyndi Garvan, Ph.D., and Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., have earned the Consultant Certification from the International Mentoring Association (IMA) as they seek to expand and study a formalized mentoring program in the department. The IMA is the only entity offering credentialing to mentoring…

July Resident of the Month: Hadia Maqsood, M.B.B.S.

Please help us congratulate our July 2022 Resident of the Month: Hadia Maqsood, M.B.B.S., CA-2! Dr. Maqsood was nominated by her fellow residents and faculty for her hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in her duties. Below are some of the quotes from her nominations.

Residents Score Top 10% on BASIC Exam

Congratulations to third-year residents Jennifer Bromwell, D.O., and Michael Jones, M.D., who scored in the top 10% of the American Board of Anesthesiology BASIC Exam in 2022! Scoring in the top 10% nationally is a testament to these residents’ hard work and dedication. “Mastering the concepts of the specialty of anesthesiology…

July 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in July 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Loeb, Kumar, Spiess, Efron, Tighe, Reina, Boezaart, Urdaneta, Wardhan, Wells, J. White, Vasilopoulos, Frantz, Fahy, and Le-Wendling. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandanavica Paterson E, Sanderson PM, Loeb RG, Paterson NAB. Improving…

François Modave, Ph.D., Joins Faculty

François Modave, Ph.D., joined us on Aug. 1 as a professor in artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Modave received a Ph.D. in computer science from the ENSEEIHT in Toulouse, France. For the first half of his career, he focused on artificial intelligence and mathematical methods of decision theory and game theory.

Critical Care Medicine Holds 4th Annual Boot Camp

Critical care medicine fellows from four departments came together to learn core skills in this three-day multidisciplinary critical care medicine boot camp. The departments of anesthesiology, emergency medicine, neurology and surgery all train fellows in critical care medicine and this boot camp aims to give them all a common foundation.

June Resident of the Month: Lida Esfandiary, M.D.

Please help us congratulate our June 2022 Resident of the Month: Lida Esfandiary, M.D., CA-3! Dr. Esfandiary was nominated by her fellow residents and faculty for her hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in her duties. Below are some of the quotes from her nominations. “Lida…

Peter Nguyen, M.D., & Francis T. Pham, M.D., Join Halifax Health

Peter Nguyen, M.D., joined us on Aug. 2 as a UF Health physician for the regional anesthesia programs at Halifax Health. He comes to us from C.A.S.E. Medical Group in Sacramento, CA, where he worked as an anesthesiologist for two years. Dr. Nguyen completed his anesthesiology residency with the UF…

Pain Medicine Fellowship Receives Grant from Boston Scientific

We are excited to announce that Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., and the Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship program have been awarded an educational grant from Boston Scientific. The Neuromodulation Fellowship Grant from Boston Scientific is intended to support professional education by providing funding for a limited number of medical fellowships…

Yosaf Zeyed, M.D., M.S., Joins Faculty

Yosaf Zeyed, M.D., M.S., joined us on Aug. 1 as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesia. He joins us from West Virginia University, where he served as assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology since 2018. Dr. Zeyed earned his medical degree from Benghazi University and his…

Three simulators created by CSSALT accredited for CME and MOCA credits

UF Health physicians can now earn CME and Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) credits by training on three simulators with integrated virtual coaches created by the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT). The accreditation of the resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA),…

Dr. Berkow leads UF Health to another environmental excellence award

UF Health Shands Hospital was recently honored with the Greenhealth Emerald Award from Practice Greenhealth in recognition of its commitment to sustainability. The competitive Greenhealth Emerald Award recognizes outstanding hospitals from within Partner for Change applicants. It recognizes the top 20 percent of applicants and is…

2022 Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellows Join the Department

Six physicians began their Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Sean Beplate, M.D. Dr. Beplate earned his medical degree at the Trinity School of Medicine and completed an anesthesiology residency at Cook County Health & Hospitals…

2022 Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellows Join the Department

Six physicians began their Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Shreya Aggarwal, D.O. Dr. Aggarwal earned her medical degree at the University of North Texas and completed an anesthesiology residency at the University of Texas. During her residency, Dr.

June 2022 publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in June 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Brennan, Caruso, Cruz Beltran, Doré, Fahy, Garvan, Goettel, Gravenstein, Howell, Janelle, Loeb, Martin, Martynyuk, McGough, Morey, Peng, Pitkin, Przkora, Sappenfield, Sullivan, Tighe, Wardhan, Jeffrey White, Peggy White, and Vasilopoulos! American Journal of Infection…

Amanda Frantz, M.D., appointed interim chief for Critical Care Medicine

We are pleased to announce that Amanda Frantz, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, has been named interim chief of the Division of Critical Care Medicine. In this role, Dr. Frantz will ensure that patients receive high-quality care and serve as a contact point for faculty and staff to…

2022 Fellows for Combined CT & CCM and Pediatric Anesthesiology Join the Department

Welcome to our new Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine Fellow and Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellow! Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine Bronson Crawford, M.D. Dr. Crawford earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He completed a combined emergency medicine/internal medicine residency at East Carolina University where he…

2022 Critical Care Medicine Fellows Join the Department

Seven physicians began their Critical Care Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Manuel Borobia, M.D. Dr. Borobia earned his medical degree at Florida International University and completed an emergency medicine residency here at the University of Florida. Dr. Borobia was chief…

Five Questions with a Resident Graduate: Krupesh Dave, M.D.

We are so proud of all of our 2022 graduates! We caught up with Krupesh Dave, M.D., to hear about his time with us and what is next for him. Q: Where are you headed to next? A: I’m staying at the University of Florida to complete a…

Four faculty promoted in 2022

Congratulations to our four faculty who were promoted effective July 1, 2022! Christopher Giordano, M.D.: promoted to clinical professorOlga “Kiki” Nin, M.D.: promoted to clinical associate professorTerrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D.: promoted to research associate professorYury Zasimovich, M.D.: promoted to clinical associate professor Promotion is a significant professional…

2022 Cardiothoracic Fellows Join the Department

Four anesthesiologists began their Adult Cardiothoracic Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Joseph AbuRahma, M.D. Dr. AbuRahma earned his medical degree at Marshall University in Huntington, WV., and completed his anesthesiology residency here at the University of Florida. Dr. AbuRahma was recognized…

New role for Brandon Lopez, M.D.

We are pleased to announce that Brandon Lopez, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, has been named medical director for CRNA/CAA services on the academic campus. In this role, Dr. Lopez will enhance communication among the CRNAs/CAAs and other parties such as the department, serve as a liaison and advocate for…

Celebrating the Class of 2022

Residents, fellows, faculty and families gathered on June 25th to celebrate the end of residency or fellowship and the beginning of their next journey. Some will be going far – Dr. Fritz-Gerald Charles will be traveling across the country to a cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship at Stanford University – but many…

Celebrating our May 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our May 2022 Resident of the Month: Scott Smith, M.D., CA-2! Dr. Smith was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for his hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in his duties. Below are some of the quotes from his nominations. “Super…

UF anesthesiology has strong showing at FSA 2022

The Department of Anesthesiology sent nine posters and had two podium presentations at the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA) Annual Meeting held June 10-12 at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida. The FSA Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of anesthesiologists in the southeastern United States. Also at the…

May 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in May 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Arnold, Cruz Beltran, Fahy, Garvan, Giordano, Gravenstein, Lampotang, Pitkin, Price, Przkora, Sappenfield, Sullivan, Tighe, Vasilopoulos, and Wesley. BioMed Research International Hatamabadi H, Sabaghian T, Sadeghi A, Heidari K, Safavi-Naini SAA, Looha MA, Taraghikhah N,…

Research expands use of clock drawing test for dementia screening

The Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN) group has developed a novel machine learning tool to enhance the scoring of the clocking drawing test, a method of screening patients for dementia. The study is the first to use semi-supervised deep learning methods to analyze digital clock drawings. The findings, which…

Dr. Doré named president-elect of UF College of Medicine Faculty Council

Congratulations to Sylvain Doré, Ph.D., FAHA, professor of anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry, pharmaceutics, and neuroscience, who has been elected president-elect of the UF College of Medicine Faculty Council. Doré started his term as president-elect on June 7 and will assume his term as president in the 2023-24 academic year,…

Residents learn essential skills in 2022 Basic Skills Boot Camp

The 2022 Basic Skills Boot Camp prepared our intern class for the challenges of their first clinical year of residency through a dedicated week of lectures and simulation training. Over five days from June 6-10, residents received instruction on topics such as anesthesiology measurements and checks, emergency medicine, airway management…

Two residents inducted into UF chapter of Gold Humanism Honor Society

Congratulations to second-year residents Harmeet Bawa, M.D., and Mundeep Bawa, M.D., who have been inducted into UF’s Resident Chapter of the national Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). They were nominated by their peers for induction into the organization, which comprises medical students, residents, faculty, and other leaders who serve…

Happy CAA Week!

As valued members of our anesthesia team, our certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs) are dedicated, highly educated and extensively trained in the delivery and maintenance of quality anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques, life support systems and patient assessment. Many thanks to these highly dependable team players who…

UF anesthesiology alum receives Gaston Labat Award from ASRA

Brian Ilfeld, M.D., a graduate of the department’s regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine fellowship (‘01), was honored with the prestigious 2022 Gaston Labat Award from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine (ASRA). Ilfeld is currently a professor of anesthesiology at the University of California San…

In Memoriam: Robert Roy Kirby, M.D., Colonel, USAF, MC

We are saddened to share the news that Robert Roy Kirby, M.D., Colonel, USAF, MC (retired), a professor in the UF Department of Anesthesiology for 21 years, has died. Kirby was a pioneer in developing ventilation concepts and bringing them to patients, as well as a prolific author. He focused…

Ilan Keidan, M.D., retires after more than 20 years at UF

We are saying farewell this spring to Ilan Keidan, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, as he retires after more than 20 years at UF, including the past 16 on faculty. Keidan completed his anesthesiology residency at UF after earning his medical degree from Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University…

Dr. Tighe named associate dean for AI application & implementation

Photo by Jesse S. Jones Patrick Tighe, M.D., M.S., has been named associate dean for AI application & implementation in the UF College of Medicine. In this new role, Tighe will leverage his experience in AI to improve our understanding of clinical operations and patient safety using advanced analytical…

Celebrating our April 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our April 2022 Resident of the Month: Nicole Premo, M.D., CA-3! Dr. Premo was nominated by her fellow residents and faculty for her hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in her duties. Below are some of the quotes from her nominations. “She…

Allyson Tragesser Receives 2022 J.S. Gravenstein Award

We are excited to announce that Allyson Tragesser, M.D., is the recipient of the 2022 J.S. Gravenstein Award for Excellence in Anesthesiology. This award is presented each year to an outstanding University of Florida College of Medicine graduate who intends to pursue anesthesiology. Tragesser, who will join the Department…

Quality improvement efforts showcased at UF Health Patient Safety and Quality Week

The department showcased its quality improvement efforts in interventional pain procedures, obstetric anesthesia, and simulation training at this year’s UF Health Patient Safety and Quality Week poster session on Wednesday, May 18. Four posters from the Department of Anesthesiology were on display during the event. Patient Safety and Quality Week,…

Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship receives 4th consecutive Golden Apple Award

The Department of Anesthesiology’s Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship has been honored with the Golden Apple Award for Clinical Science from the graduating medical student class for the fourth consecutive year! Chris Giordano, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and director of the clerkship, accepted the award during the College of…

How to prepare for the anesthesiology residency BASIC Exam

Anesthesiology residents take the American Board of Anesthesiology BASIC Exam at the end of their first clinical year (CA-1) in June. It is the first of three staged examinations required for certification (the others are the Advanced and Applied). How We Prepare Our Residents Residents experience a steep…

April 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in April 2022! Our faculty who were published are Drs. Fahy, Garvan, Goettel, Loeb, Mohamed, Price, Seubert, and Vasilopoulos! BMC Research Notes Safavi-Naini SAA, Farsi Y, Alali WQ, Solhpour A, Pourhoseingholi MA. Excess all-cause mortality and COVID-19 reported fatality in Iran (April…

Dr. Przkora appointed chair of ASA Abstract Review Subcommittee

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed to a one-year term as chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Abstract Review Subcommittee on Chronic and Cancer Pain. The appointment will become effective Oct. 26, 2022, and conclude on Oct. 18, 2023.  Przkora, professor of anesthesiology, chief of the Division of…

Reflection on a year of leadership: A Q&A with the 2021-22 chief residents

At the end of March, our 2021-22 chief residents, David Hutchinson, M.D., Nicole Premo, M.D., and Bill Mallett, M.D., passed the torch to the next group of leaders. These residents provided exemplary leadership and enthusiasm during a challenging year. We caught up with them to ask how they reflect…

Medical students mentored by Dr. Tighe honored for research

Two students in the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) were honored this spring for their research under the mentorship of Patrick Tighe, M.D., M.S., associate professor of anesthesiology and the Donn M. Dennis, M.D., Professor in Anesthetic Innovation. Tatiana Maser ’24 received the…

Pain Medicine Fellowship awarded Abbott and Medtronic grants

The Division of Pain Medicine has been awarded grants from Abbott and Medtronic to support the Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship. The funding will help the fellowship train the next generation of leaders in pain medicine; facilitate clinical, basic, and translational research activities; enhance efforts to provide the highest quality…

Laurie Davies, M.D., recognized for service as ABA Examiner

Laurie Davies, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, was recently honored for 30 years of service as a full examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. She has served as a full examiner from 1992 to 2022 and was recognized at the end of a recent Applied Examination week this…

Thanks to our Physician and Provider Recruitment Professionals!

The week of April 24 to 30 is national Physician and Provider Recruitment Professionals Week, and we are thanking the outstanding professionals in our department who play a crucial role in recruitment. This special inaugural week put on by the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment recognizes…

Leah Buletti Wins 2022 Rebecca Lovely Outstanding Service Award

Congratulations to Leah Buletti, editorial assistant, for being selected as the winner of the sixth annual Rebecca Y. Lovely Outstanding Service Award! Leah was nominated by five members of the department for this award. Below are some highlights from her nominations. “Leah is a single common denominator in much…

Celebrating our March 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our March 2022 Resident of the Month: Matthew McGee, M.D., CA-2! Dr. McGee was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for his hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in his duties. Below are some of the quotes from his nominations. “He…

March 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in March 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Fahy, Ihnatsenka, Le-Wendling, Mohamed, Nin, Peng, Pitkin, Przkora, Robicsek, Smith, Soberon, Sullivan, Tighe, Vasilopoulos, and Zasimovich! Annals of Thoracic Surgery Bleiweis MS, Philip J, Peek GJ, Fudge JC, Sullivan KJ, Co-Vu J, Gupta…

Fourth-year resident delivers keynote at Accepted Medical Student Weekend

Fritz-Gerald Charles, M.D., a fourth-year resident, was honored with the opportunity to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Emerald Ball, part of Accepted Medical Student Weekend and a culmination of the UF College of Medicine’s Celebration of Diversity Week. The keynote on Saturday, April 9, was intended to…

UF anesthesiology residents win four awards at GAARRC 2022

Our residents took home four out of six total awards at the 46th annual Gulf Atlantic Anesthesia Residents’ Research Conference (GAARRC) hosted by the Mayo Clinic from April 8-10. The department sent six residents to the conference and took home first place in the original research category and first, second,…

UF undergraduate to join Sylvain Doré’s lab through University Scholars Program

UF undergraduate student Saba Khan ’23 has been selected for the University Scholars Program for the College of Medicine and will conduct a full research project under the mentorship of Sylvain Doré, Ph.D., FAHA, professor of anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry, pharmaceutics, and neuroscience. Saba will begin her research during…

Dr. Peng earns Diagnostic POCUS Certificate from ASA

Yong G. Peng, M.D., Ph.D., FASE, FASA, professor of anesthesiology and chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, has become the first in the department to earn the newly updated Diagnostic POCUS Certificate from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). The educational certificate is the only program created…

Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship named UF GME Program of the Year

We are excited to announce that the Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship has been named the UF Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program of the Year for 2021-2022. Nominations were accepted only from housestaff and a GME selection committee chose the winner. The fellowship was selected from among 67 highly competitive…

2022-2023 chief residents selected

The Anesthesiology Education Office and the Department of Anesthesiology Leadership are pleased to announce the selection of our three new chief residents for the upcoming academic year. Shahrukh Bengali, M.D., Bryan Stevens, M.D., and Andrey Suprun, M.D., will serve from April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023. To be selected,…

Celebrating our February 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our February 2022 Resident of the Month: Muna Oli, M.D., CA-1! Dr. Oli was nominated by her fellow residents and faculty for her hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in her duties. Below are some of the quotes from her nominations.

CRNA leadership appointed at regional anesthesia programs

Please help us congratulate our new CRNA leadership at our regional anesthesia programs! At Halifax Health, Nikki Rosace, CRNA, has been appointed chief CRNA. David Hoehn, CRNA, has been appointed vice chief CRNA. At UF Health Central Florida, Eva Berry, CRNA, has been appointed co-chief CRNA along with Karen…

Pain Medicine Fellowship to participate in ASRA Meet & Greet

The UF Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship will participate in a Virtual Meet & Greet with applicants from 8-10:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7. UF’s program was one of the most highly requested to be represented at the inaugural networking event organized by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain…