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Melinn Lanier

Welcome 2026 CCM and CTCC fellows

Five physicians joined our Critical Care Medicine Fellowship and one joined our Adult Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Fellowship. Please help us in welcoming them to the Department of Anesthesiology! Incoming Critical Care Medicine Fellows Younus Aqeel, M.D. Aqeel earned his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

Three faculty members promoted in 2026

Three University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology faculty members were promoted this year, effective July 1, 2026. Congratulations to Joshua Sappenfield, M.D., Sandra Gonzalez, M.D., and Everett Jones, M.D.! Sappenfield was promoted to clinical professor of anesthesiology, while Gonzalez and Jones earned the clinical associate professor title. Earning a…

June 2026 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in June! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Bashir, Garvan, Urdaneta, Vasilopoulos, and White. Anesthesia and Analgesia Bashir AH. A new study partner: leveraging artificial intelligence for the Anesthesiology APPLIED Exam. Anesth Analg. Published online June 15, 2026. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000008159 Birth Oli C, Rhomberg…

May 2026 Resident of the Month

Ryan King, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the May 2026 Resident of the Month! Dr. King’s nominations emphasize his positive attitude: “His work ethic and positive attitude make him someone I enjoy working with.” Another co-resident said, “Awesome team member on mole. Always on top of his work,…

May 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month

Elvio Mazzotta, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the May 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Mazzotta’s nominations highlight his calm demeanor and valuable knowledge: “Great teacher, very easy to work with, calm and collected.” Another nomination said: “Pleasure to work with. Willing to…

UF Anesthesiology remains a major force at the FSA Annual Meeting

The UF Department of Anesthesiology was well represented at the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA) Annual Meeting, held June 12-14th at the Breakers in West Palm Beach, FL. Over 40 of our department members, including faculty, residents, and fellows, played an active role in making the meeting a success…

Allison S. Haller, M.D., joins the department

Please help us welcome Allison S. Haller, M.D., to the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology. She joined us as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Haller previously spent eight years as an assistant professor with our department. She earned her medical degree from the UF…

May 2026 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in May! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Bashir, Berkow, Brennan, Kumar, Maybauer, Mora, Przkora, Smith, and Vasilopoulos. A&A Practice Krogman H, Goordeen A, Mora JC. Comparative Outcomes of Lateral and Posterior Approaches to Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion in a Single…

Spotlighting our Graduates: Kellen Creech, D.O., MPH

In June, 25 of our residents are graduating and moving on in their careers. One of these outstanding graduates is Kellen Creech, D.O., MPH. Creech received his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and served as one of our chief residents for the past academic year.

Zeeshan Khan, Ph.D., joins the department

Please help us welcome Zeeshan Khan, Ph.D., to the UF Department of Anesthesiology. He joined us as an assistant scientist in our Research Division. Khan has worked as a post-doctoral researcher in the laboratory of Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology and neuroscience, for three years. He has played an…

April 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month

Andrea Macias Mendoza, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the April 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Mendoza’s nominations commend her for recognizing when to let residents take charge and when to step in and lead: “On mole, Dr. Mendoza was so willing to…

Study details life-saving treatment for COVID‑19 end‑stage lung disease

A recent study published by researchers at the University of Florida reports that bilateral orthotopic lung transplantation (BOLT) was a life‑saving treatment for patients with end‑stage pulmonary disease caused by COVID‑19, even when those patients required prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. The article, “Clinical Characteristics and Postoperative Outcomes…

April 2026 Resident of the Month

Cameron Myers, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the April 2026 Resident of the Month! Dr. Myers’ nominations emphasize his great teamwork skills and helpful attitude: “He is an outstanding team player who is always willing to step in and help wherever needed.” Another co-resident said, “He consistently supports…

April 2026 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in April! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Bashir, Beltran, Boezaart, Chapin, Chembrovich, Garvin, Gravenstein, Haas, Ihnatsenka, Jimenez Ruiz,  Lampotang, Luria, Martin, Maybauer, Przkora, Reina, Robicsek, Samouce, Schutte, Shah, Slowey, Walker, Wendling, and Zasimovich. A&A Practice Chan K, Ali S, Bashir A.

Melissa Vu, M.D., joins the department

Please help us welcome Melissa Vu, M.D., to the UF Department of Anesthesiology. She joined us as an associate professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Vu earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Kansas City, where she also completed her anesthesiology residency. She…

Rohan Sarna, M.D., joins UF Health Pain Medicine – Halifax Health

Rohan Sarna, M.D., joins us as a UF Health physician, specializing in chronic pain medicine, at UF Health Pain Medicine – Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sarna completed his endoscopic spine fellowship with us in 2024. After his fellowship, he practiced as an interventional pain physician for a private…

John Heinbockel, M.D., appointed medical director of the Ocala Neighborhood Hospital

The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology is pleased to announce John Heinbockel, M.D., MSEE, assistant professor of anesthesiology, was appointed the medical director for the UF Health Ocala Neighborhood Hospital. In this role, Heinbockel will develop systems for patient flow, optimize preoperative services, ensure compliance with regulatory standards,…

Omowonuola Ogundele, M.D., selected for UF Health LEAD Resident award

Omowonuola Ogundele, M.D., an anesthesiology intern, has been selected for the University of Florida Health LEAD Resident award. LEAD stands for listens to and values each other’s input, emphasizes to understand and put our patients first, achieves our goals together, and dedicates him/herself to make quality care and attentive service…

March 2026 Resident of the Month

Mike Jayson, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the March 2026 Resident of the Month! Dr. Jayson’s nominations praise his hard work as a mole team member: “He went above and beyond during his mole rotation. He checked on other residents and made sure all preops were done. He…

March 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month

Anthony Barrios, M.D., assistant program director for Resident Education & Didactics, was chosen by our residents as the March 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Barrios’ nominations emphasize how rewarding it is to have him as an educator: “He is a fantastic attending who is passionate about resident education.

UF Anesthesia Ski Summit meets in Vail, CO

This March, the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology hosted the Spring Anesthesia Ski Summit in Vail, Colorado. This was the third consecutive year the summit returned to Antlers Resort, after a few years of coordinating the event in Park City, Utah. The event ran from Monday to Friday, allowing attendees…

New space, same high-quality training: CSSALT moves to the Communicore

The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology’s Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) moved from the Harrell Medical Education Building to room CG-15 on the ground floor of the Communicore Building, bringing the lab closer to the department and making its training, simulation, and…

Rene Przkora, M.D., selected for pain medicine award

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., FASA, professor of anesthesiology, associate chair for research, chief of the Division of Pain Medicine, and director of our Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship, has been selected as the recipient of the award for Educational Stewardship & Leadership in Pain Medicine by the American Society of Interventional…

2026 Match Day results

The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology has successfully matched with 20 interns (4-year residents) and four CA1s (3-year residents) who will join us this July, and one “advanced commitment” physician who will begin training with us as a CA1 in July 2027. Six of our incoming interns are…

February 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month

Danielle Cobb, M.D., courtesy assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the February 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Cobb’s nominations highlight her dedication to teaching residents and helping them succeed: “She consistently makes everyone feel like a valuable part of the team. She dedicated tons…

February 2026 Resident of the Month

Kade Eppich, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the February 2026 Resident of the Month! Dr. Eppich’s nominations applaud his positive attitude and his tendency to surpass expectations: “He has a great attitude, and he’s always willing to help and try to share the load of tough cases. He…

Department unites at the Anesthesiology Celebration of Research

The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology held its Celebration of Research on March 5. Department members gathered to view over 40 posters and listen to a handful of oral presentations as well as a special keynote address. This annual event is an opportunity for department members to…

February 2026 publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in February! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Boezaart, Chapin, Davies, Downs, Fahy, Garvan, Heidi Goldstein, and Reina. British Journal of Anaesthesia De Cassai A, Dost B, Augoustides JG…Goldstein HV…et al. Responsible Use of Large Language Models in Manuscript Authorship, Peer Review,…

Annual Celebration of Research provides a sneak peek of future publications

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…

Chief residents selected for national honor medical society

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…

January 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month

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…

January 2026 Resident of the Month

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…

Harvey Livingstone, MBChB, joins the department

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 honored with UF Superior Accomplishment Award

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…

Dr. Lauren Berkow receives faculty enhancement award to attend ISO meeting

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…

2026 Modell-Shah Lecture highlights patient blood management

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…

January 2026 publications

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.

December 2025 Resident of the Month

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…

December 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

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 heart bypass surgery study aims to improve patient outcomes

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., and Juan Mora, M.D., complete Leadership Development Program

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…

December 2025 publications

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., retires after 34 years of service

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…

November 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

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…

November 2025 Resident of the Month

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…

November 2025 publications

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., receives committee appointments

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…

Voke Chuba, M.D., selected for a physician leadership academy

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…

October 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

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…

October 2025 Resident of the Month

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…

Study examines link between harassment and burnout in pediatric anesthesiology fellowships

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…

October 2025 publications

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…

14 faculty receive 2025 Exemplary Teacher Awards

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…

Resident Spotlight: David Jablonski, Jr., M.D.

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…

September 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

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…

Research administration interns learn about compliance and award activities in new internship

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…

UF Department of Anesthesiology makes waves at Anesthesiology 2025

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., receives ASA Resident Distinction Award

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…

September 2025 Resident of the Month

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…

September 2025 publications

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…

Hadia Maqsood, MBBS, joins the department

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…

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., selected to be associate chair of research

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…

August 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

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,…

Three clinical directors of research have been appointed

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…

August 2025 Resident of the Month

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., receives accolades from two journals

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…

August 2025 publications

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., appointed to two ASA committees

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…

2025 IHAF winners

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…

Resident Spotlight: Paola Nathaly Silva Enriquez, M.D.

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…

Walter Johnson, M.D., leads pain medicine services in Ocala

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…

July 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

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…

July 2025 Resident of the Month

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., named a Distinguished Professor

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.

July 2025 publications

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.

Shakthi Jayanthy Venkatachalam, MBBS, joins the department

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…

Enhancing anesthesia care in rural Guatemala

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,…

Welcome 2025 RAAPM fellows

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 residents score in the top 10% on BASIC Exam

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…

Welcome 2025 pain medicine and endoscopic spine fellows

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…

June 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

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…

Welcome 2025 CT fellows

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…

June 2025 Resident of the Month

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…

Elvio Andres Mazzotta, M.D., joins the department

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 CĂłrdoba in Argentina where he also completed an anesthesiology residency at a private hospital. After this…

Welcome 2025 CCM and CCM—EM fellows

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…

June 2025 publications

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…

Welcoming new residents to our program

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 faculty members promoted in 2025

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…

May 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

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…

May 2025 Resident of the Month

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.

From learners to leaders: celebrating our 2025 resident graduates

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…

UF Anesthesiology shines at the FSA Annual Meeting

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…

May 2025 Publications

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…