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The 2026 University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology Celebration of Research will be held on Thursday, March 5. This annual event highlights the broad spectrum of research within the department, including basic science, case reports, quality improvement, clinical trials, and education. Over the last year, a number of department members…
All 3 of the UF Department of Anesthesiology’s FY26 chief residents have been selected for induction to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor medical society. Congratulations to Kyle Chan, M.D., Kellen Creech, D.O., and Ally Tragesser, M.D., for this remarkable honor. They were recognized for their high educational achievement and…
Tyler Fong, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the January 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Fong’s nominations highlight his caring nature and helpful instruction: “He genuinely cares about each resident and is always willing to teach and explain his clinical decision.” One resident…
Eduardo Walker, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the January 2026 Resident of the Month!Dr. Walker’s nominations applaud his helpful nature: “Eduardo took time out of his busy morning before his case to help me set up for my case. He is always going above and beyond…
Please help us welcome Harvey Livingstone, MBChB, MMedSc, FRCA, to the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology. He joins us as an assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology. Livingstone earned his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Leeds School of Medicine in…
Rebecca Wakeman, CCRC, CPT, manager of the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology clinical research office, received a 2026 UF Superior Accomplishment Award. She was recognized for her individual employee performance in division 5 (UF Health Colleges, Academic Units, and Research Centers & Institutes). Wakeman’s excellent work ethic was…
The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology was well represented at the 16th annual UF College of Medicine (COM) Celebration of Research with 30 posters. The two-day celebration culminated at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on February 10 with a poster session. The event took place in three parts.
Lauren Berkow, M.D., FASA, professor of anesthesiology and director of anesthesia supplies and equipment for UF Health Shands Hospital, has been selected to receive a spring 2026 Faculty Enhancement Opportunity (FEO) award. She will use the funding to attend an annual meeting for the Technical Council (TC) 121 Committee of…
The 2026 Jerome H. Modell, M.D., – Dinesh O. Shah, Ph.D., Annual Lecture in Anesthesiology was held on Thursday, February 5, in the Harrell Medical Education Building. This year the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology was honored to welcome Daryl J. Kor, M.D., M.Sc., chair of the Department…
Congratulations to all who had articles published in January! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Andoniadis, Boezaart, Euliano, Fahy, Frantz, Garvan, Lopez, Maybauer, Przkora, Reina, Smith, Vasilopoulos, Wendling, and Wenzel. American Journal of Infection Control Vasilopoulos T, Smith CR, Frantz AM, LeMaster T, Martinez RA, Gunnett AM, Fahy BG.
André P. Boezaart, M.D., Ph.D., FASRA, emeritus professor with the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology, has been chosen to receive the 2026 Gaston Labat Award by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) and Pain Medicine. He was selected due to his incredible contributions to the development, teaching,…
Austin Friedman, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the December 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Friedman’s nominations state that he is a great team player who goes above and beyond: “Austin was on my mole team, and he was wonderful. He took on difficult cases without ever complaining…
Kenneth N. John, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the December 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. John’s nominations highlight his dedication to resident education: “He is heavily invested in resident education and genuinely cares about us. Always fun to work with in the…
New research to support better outcomes after heart bypass surgery has been released by a team of researchers from the UF Departments of Anesthesiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery. Using clinical data from UF Health Shands Hospital, the team developed a preliminary prediction model to identify modifiable factors associated with patients requiring…
Tim Feldheim, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, and Juan Mora, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, recently completed the UF College of Medicine Leadership Development Program, which seeks to enhance the skills of current faculty leaders. The program uses the UF Leadership Competency Model as a guide and allows participants to…
Congratulations to all who had articles published in December! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Fahy, Maybauer, Nin, Parker, Przkora, Sappenfield, Shah, Smith, Tighe, and Wenzel. American Journal of Veterinary Research Davey EL, Gabaldon C, Reynolds PS, et al. Diaphragmotomy Enhances Caudal Liver Displacement and Hilus Visualization in Canine…
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…
Susana Cruz Beltrán, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the November 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Cruz Beltrán’s nominations highlight how accommodating and supportive she is as a teacher. One resident said, “Dr. Cruz makes an effort to draw out personalized images of…
Ignacio Quintana, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the November 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Quintana’s nominations praise his proactive personality. A co-resident said, “Ignacio has done a great job in the ICU. He takes initiative, seeks learning opportunities, and takes ownership of his patients.” Another co-resident acknowledged…
Soleil Schutte, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, has played an integral role in the Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship, previously acting as assistant program director, she is now taking the lead as director of the fellowship. In 2020, Schutte completed her anesthesiology residency here…
Congratulations to all who had articles published in November! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Garvan, Haas, Meroney, Przkora, Shah, Spiess, and Wenzel. ACS Applied Bio Materials Maulvi FA, Mahala SM, Shetty KH, Sahu A, Patel AR, Desai DT, Shah DO, Willcox MDP. Engineering mixed micelle-loaded contact lenses for…
Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., FASA, professor of anesthesiology and associate chair for research, has been appointed to two committees. He was selected for the North American Neuromodulation Society’s (NANS) Continuing Medical Education (CME) Committee as well as for the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) Committee on Scientific Advisory (SAC). Przkora…
Emuejevoke “Voke” Chuba, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of anesthesiology, has been accepted into the Karl M. Altenburger, M.D., Physician Leadership Academy for 2026. This Florida Medical Association physician leadership academy is a year-long program that helps emerging physicians develop leadership skills along with other non-clinical skills. Chuba will participate in…
Juan Mora, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the October 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Mora’s nominations praise his clinical teaching as he helps residents become more confident and informed. One resident said Dr. Mora “prioritized my education with every patient, improving my…
Jonah Whiteside, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the October 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Whiteside’s nominations say that it is easy to work with him due to his positive attitude and great humor. A co-resident said he is “clinically strong and always a well-prepared resident with a…
Karisa Walker, M.D., M.Ed., associate professor of anesthesiology, is the lead author on a recently published research report in Pediatric Anesthesia examining the prevalence of sexual harassment (SH) among pediatric anesthesiology fellowship program directors, associate program directors, and fellows. Her paper, “Harassment and Burnout in Academic…
Congratulations to all who had articles published in *October! Our faculty with publications were Drs. AbuRahma, Bose, Fahy, Goldstein, Maybauer, Peng, Rawal, Sappenfield, Sibille, and Vasilopoulos. Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia van Nispen J, Bradley G, Rackauskas M, Rawal SB, Mulvoy W, Maybauer MO. Venoarterial Extracorporeal Life Support in Circulatory…
We are pleased to announce that 14 Department of Anesthesiology faculty members have received the UF College of Medicine Exemplary Teacher Award for 2025. 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…
David Jablonski, Jr., M.D., is a CA-2 resident with a medical degree from the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine. Additionally, he has a undergraduate degree from UF. He is interested in pursuing a regional fellowship after residency. Shout out to Amanda Frantz, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, for…
Bharathram Vasudevan, MBBS, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the September 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Vasudevan’s nominations highlight his helpful and effective teaching methods. One resident said, “I have worked with Dr. Vasudevan in several settings including the OR, ICU, and now…
The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology recently launched a research administration internship program for recent graduates interested in the administrative processes that support research initiatives. Interns learn about research compliance, grants and awards, project finances, and more. Martin Noguera, M.S., CRA, CPRA, assistant director of research administration, leads…
University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology members attended this year’s American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) annual meeting with faculty, staff, fellows, and residents sharing more than 25 posters and participating in numerous sessions, discussions, and panels. Held in San Antonio, Texas, from October 10-14, 2025, the ASA conference provided an…
Abigail Schirmer, M.D., CA-3 resident, has been recognized by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) with the Resident Distinction Award, which was created for anesthesiology residents to develop their professional citizenship, leadership, and scholarship capabilities. She is the first University of Florida anesthesiology resident to receive this new designation, which…
Melanie Vargas, M.D., was chosen by her peers as the September 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Vargas’ nominations praise her helpfulness and pleasant attitude. “Melanie is an outstanding resident who is always not only willing but happy to help the team. She brings an enjoyable attitude to both work…
Congratulations to all who had articles published in September! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Beltran, Brennan, Chapin, Davies, Feldheim, Garvan, Gravenstein, Janelle, Lampotang, Martynyuk, Morey, Pitkin, Price, Samouce, Sullivan, Tighe, and Walker. Advances in Anesthesia Feldheim TV, Brennan M, Tighe P. The Current Use of Artificial…
Please help us welcome Hadia Maqsood, MBBS, to the UF Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in the Division of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine (RAAPM). Maqsood has an extensive history with the department, where she completed her anesthesiology residency and RAAPM fellowship. During her time as a…
We are pleased to announce that Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology, chief of the Division of Pain Medicine, and program director for our Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship, has been named associate chair of research for the UF Department of Anesthesiology. Przkora takes on this role after acting as…
Anesthesia & Analgesia recently published a letter to the editor co-authored by UF Department of Anesthesiology members Abigail Schirmer, M.D., Olga Nin, M.D., Laurie Davies, M.D., Joseph AbuRahma, M.D., and Lauren Berkow, M.D. Nina Sharifi, B.S., a medical student in the College of Medicine, was also…
Erika Taco Vasquez, M.D., was chosen by our residents as the August 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Vasquez’s nominations point out that residents enjoy her courses due to her calm presence and welcoming personality. “Dr. Vasquez is always so calming,” one resident said. “She comes into the room,…
The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology leadership team has named three new clinical directors of research. Congratulations to Sebastián Gatica-Morris, M.D., T. Everett Jones, M.D., and Gevalin Srisooksai, M.D., on their appointments. Gatica-Morris will serve as the clinical director of research for the Division of Neuroanesthesiology. He joined…
Steven Ayala, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the August 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Ayala’s nominations highlight his helpfulness and flexibility. “He really went out of the way to make my paired experience better,” One of his co-residents said. “He taught well and allowed me to make…
Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine, has received accolades from two different journals. She has been invited to join the BMC Medical Education journal as an editorial board member. Additionally, a paper that she co-authored has been recognized with an award by the…
Congratulations to all who had articles published in August! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Beltran, Boezaart, Gravenstein, Lampotang, Pitkin, Reina, Samouce, Shah, Sullivan, Trippensee, and Wardhan. Annals of Thoracic Surgery Bleiweis MS, Philip J, Fudge JC, Beltran SC, Sullivan KJ, Narasimhulu SS, Pitkin AD, Gupta D, Bilgili A, Brinkley…
Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., FASA, professor of anesthesiology, has been appointed to two American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) committees, which focus on academics. He will fulfill a two-year adjunct term for ASA’s 2026 Committee on Academic Anesthesiology. He will also engage in a one-year member term for ASA’s 2026 Educational…
Congratulations to Asad Bashir, M.D., Zeeshan Khan, Ph.D., and Kelena Klippel, M.S., who received 2025 I. Heermann Anesthesia Foundation (IHAF) Education Awards. Faculty members Prodip Bose, M.D., Ph.D., Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., Ryan Parker, M.D., and Anatoly E. Martynyuk, Ph.D. are co-investigators and mentors on these projects. The IHAF encourages…
Meet Paola Nathaly Silva Enriquez, M.D., a talented and dedicated member of our anesthesiology residency program. After completing her medical degree at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Facultad de Medicina in Colombia, Enriquez joined our team as an intern in 2024. As she embarks on her first clinical…
Please help us welcome Walter Johnson, M.D., who joined the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology and UF Health as a pain medicine specialist at the Ocala Neighborhood Hospital (ONH). As the medical director of pain medicine services at ONH, he plays a key role in expanding advanced…
Josh Sappenfield, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the July 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Sappenfield’s nominations pointed out that his lectures are well-organized and easily digestible. One nomination said he “does a great job making complex concepts easier to understand.” Another resident…
Dimitri Kampouris, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the July 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Kampouris’ nominations highlight his reliability and hard work. One nomination said he “performed at a high level during an overnight case involving an intraop code.” He also “reliably completed any task asked of…
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.
Congratulations to all who had articles or book chapters published in July! Our faculty with publications were Drs. AbuRahma, Berkow, Davies, Edwards, Fahy, Garvan, Jimenez, Jones, Kumar, Maybauer, Meroney, Mora, Nin, Przkora, and Vasilopoulos. Annals of Cardiac Anesthesia Landolt L, Goldstein JC, Weir W, Rackauskas M, AbuRahma J.
Please join us in welcoming Shakthi Jayanthy Venkatachalam, MBBS, to the UF Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in the Division of Obstetric Anesthesia. Venkatachalam earned her medical degree at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Coimbatore, India, where she also did her internship, and completed…
A University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology team intends to streamline chest and urine drainage management with automated, remote, and continuous monitoring. Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D., the Joachim S. Gravenstein Professor of Anesthesiology, is at the forefront of this project along with Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., the Jerome H. Modell, M.D.,…
In response to identified gaps in anesthesia care, a University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology team launched a project to enhance regional anesthesia skills among anesthesiologists and anesthesiology residents in rural Guatemala, ultimately improving patient outcomes and elevating the standard of care. This initiative was sparked by a study,…
Five physicians joined our Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship. Please help us welcome them to the department! Incoming Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellows Duration: 12…
Three CA-2 residents scored in the top 10% nationally on the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) BASIC Examination in June. Congratulations to Victor Adepoju, M.D., Dimitri Kampouris, M.D., and Rohan Patel, M.D., on their outstanding performance! The BASIC Examination is the first exam of the ABA board…
Six physicians joined our Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship, and two anesthesiologists joined our Endoscopic Spine Fellowship. Please help us welcome them to the department! Incoming Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellows…
Janos Geli, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the June 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Geli’s nominations highlight his patience and teaching skills. One nomination said, “Dr. Geli is always willing to go over difficult learning topics with his residents and always…
Six anesthesiologists joined our Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship. Please help us welcome them to the department! IncomIng cardiothoracic Fellows Anthony Boateng, M.D. Anthony Boateng, M.D., earned his medical…
Casey Taylor, D.O., was chosen by his peers as the June 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Taylor’s nominations point out that he helps and motivates other residents. One nomination said, “He not only made us feel confident tackling subspecialty cases but a lot of times ended up staying later…
Please join us in welcoming Elvio Andres Mazzotta, M.D., to the UF Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in the Division of Neuroanesthesiology. Mazzotta earned his medical degree at the National University of Córdoba in Argentina where he also completed an anesthesiology residency at a private hospital. After this…
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…
Congratulations to all who had articles published in June! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Berkow, Boezaart, Brennan, Fahy, Jones, Martynyuk, Reina, Reynolds, and Vasilopoulos. Anesthesiology Epstein RH, Dexter F, Fahy BG. Inpatient postoperative mortality: comparing patients hospitalized preoperatively to those having elective surgery. Anesthesiology. 2025;143(1):62-70. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000005477 Biology Khan…
The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology is excited to welcome new residents to our team! For each academic year, the department interviews and screens many prospective residents that are among the best in the nation. This year we received 1,400 applications and interviewed over 200 candidates for…
Six of our faculty members were promoted this year, effective July 1, 2025. Congratulations to Meghan Brennan, M.D., Cole Dooley, M.D., Christopher Edwards, M.D., Amanda Frantz, M.D., Sanjeev Kumar, M.D., and Juan Mora, M.D.! Kumar was promoted to clinical professor, while Brennan, Dooley, Edwards, Frantz, and Mora earned the clinical…
Svetlana Chembrovich, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the May Faculty Educator of the Month. Dr. Chembrovich’s nominations highlight her care and consideration. Residents remark that she goes above and beyond for her patients: “She’s always very patient and thoughtful with teaching blocks. Genuinely cares…
Sayoni Saha, M.D., was chosen by her peers as the May Resident of the Month! Dr. Saha’s nominations praise her for being a great leader and team player. Her peers appreciate that they can rely on her in times of need: “I just had a tough Saturday call with Dr.
The University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology gathered to celebrate a significant milestone for its graduating residents on Saturday, June 14. The event, which took place at the Champion’s Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, was filled with heartfelt speeches, well-deserved awards, and emotional tributes. In addition to recognizing each…
Faculty, residents, fellows, and staff from the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology shared knowledge and research at the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA) Annual Meeting held June 6-8, 2025, at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida. Department members presented 14 posters and led 11 sessions or workshops…
Twenty-four soon-to-be CA-1 residents participated in this year’s Basic Skills Boot Camp. Faculty, staff, and residents helped prepare them for their first clinical anesthesiology year. The 2025 boot camp was held on the first week of June. One of the main purposes of this week of lectures and workshops was…
Congratulations to all who had articles published in May! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Chapin, Dooley, Edwards, Gravenstein, Jimenez Ruiz, Le-Wendling, Martynyuk, Maybauer, Pitkin, Reina, Smith, and Sullivan. Anesthesiology Ju LS, Khan ZA, Gravenstein N, Seubert CN, Setlow B, Martynyuk AE. Intergenerational postoperative neurocognitive disorder…
