All Posts by

Scott Hunter

November 2024 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in November! Published faculty were Doctors Brennan, Edwards, Feldheim, Jones, Kumar, Lampotang, Meroney, Price, Spiess, and Vasilopoulos. Brain Injury Murphy TW, Cueto RJ, Zhu J, Milling J, Sauter J, Oli M, Griffin IT, Midathala G, Tyndall JA, Spiess B, Wang KKW, Kobeissy FH, Becker…

Resident spotlight: Stacia Andrews, M.D.

Stacia Andrews, M.D., earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She is now in her final year of our anesthesiology residency program. We asked Dr. Andrews about her experience in our residency program and…

Pain medicine team shines at ASRA

Members of the UF Department of Anesthesiology Division of Pain Medicine, including some of our Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine fellows, traveled to the 23rd Annual Pain Medicine Meeting hosted by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine in November. Fellow Aaran Varatharajan, M.D., was honored with a Resident/Fellow…

October Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to associate professor of anesthesiology Jeffrey White, M.D., who has been chosen by our residents as the October Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. White was chosen due to his deep commitment to teaching and his wealth of medical knowledge. His nominations applaud him for creating a positive…

October Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Andrew Burchak, M.D., who has been chosen by his colleagues as our Resident of the Month! Dr. Burchak’s nominations praise him for being an excellent team player who is easy to work with and who consistently strives to learn and improve. They also speak to his strong…

Registration now open for 2025 Spring Anesthesia Ski Summit

Registration has officially opened for the 2025 Spring Anesthesia Ski Summit! The annual summit, which will take place in Vail, CO from March 3-7, is a combined ski and learn meeting. The conference features CME lectures in the morning and evening, giving attendees a chance to hit the ski…

14 faculty receive Exemplary Teacher Awards

Congratulations to each of the 14 Department of Anesthesiology faculty who received 2024 Exemplary Teacher Awards! 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, physician assistant students, graduate…

Resident spotlight: Kyle Chan, M.D.

Kyle Chan, M.D., went to the University of California – Berkeley for undergrad and earned his medical degree here at the University of Florida. He’s currently a third-year resident in the Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Chan was kind enough to answer some of our questions about his experiences so far…

October 2024 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in October! Published faculty were Doctors Gravenstein, Haas, Kumar, Maybauer, Reynolds, Robicsek, Spiess, and Vasilopoulos. Anesthesia and Analgesia Spiess BD, Hamdorf JM, Gross I. An ironclad case for patient blood management: iron is more than hemoglobin. Anesth Analg. 2024 Nov 1;139(5):965-968. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007082.

UF Health Shands honored with award for excellence in life support

In October, UF Health Shands was honored by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) with the Gold Level ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support. This award recognizes institutions that reach the highest level of performance, innovation, and quality in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in its pediatric…

The importance of anemia screening during Patient Blood Management Awareness Week

The first week in November is Patient Blood Management Awareness Week. Patient blood management (PBM) is focused on techniques that decrease blood loss during procedures and prevent anemia. Thorsten Haas, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and director of PBM, was awarded last year’s W. Martin Smith Interdisciplinary Patient…

Benjamin Chapin, M.D., named co-chair of ADS research committee

Congratulations to Benjamin Chapin, M.D., on being named co-chair of the American Delirium Society (ADS) Research Committee. Chapin, a cognitive-behavioral neurologist, joined the department as an assistant professor in 2023. As part of the University of Florida’s Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN), he works with patients who have…

September Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Meera Ramsooksingh, M.D., M.S., who has been chosen by our residents as the September Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Ramsooksingh is an assistant professor in the Divisions of Neuroanesthesiology and Vascular Anesthesia. See some quotes from her nominations below. “Dr. Ramsooksingh is a very skilled physician; she…

Tim Martin, M.D., associate chair for education, attends conference in Mongolia

Congratulations to Tim Martin, M.D., MBA, professor of anesthesiology, associate chair for education, and chief of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, on his invited presentation at the First International Conference on Pediatrics and Pediatric Dentistry in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia. Martin gave a lecture on common post-anesthesia complications in children, titled “Identification…

Department well represented at Anesthesiology 2024

The Department of Anesthesiology was well represented at this year’s annual American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) conference, with faculty, residents, and fellows presenting more than 15 posters and participating in many panels, workshops, committees, and discussions. The conference, which was held this year in Philadelphia, PA from 10/18-10/22, is an…

September Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Linda Lange, D.O., who has been selected by her colleagues as our September Resident of the Month! Read on for some quotes from her nominations. Lange always goes above and beyond to help her co-residents and takes on challenging clinical situations with a positive attitude. She was…

Dr. Przkora named interim 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 interim associate chair of research for the UF Department of Anesthesiology.  Dr. Przkora advocates for a collaborative…

A Q&A with Olga “Kiki” Nin, M.D., clinical associate professor of anesthesiology and medical director of UF Health’s Florida Surgical Center and The Oaks

Olga “Kiki” Nin, M.D., recently spoke with us about her career with the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology. She is a clinical associate professor in the Division of Acute Pain Medicine, the assistant chair for clinical services, and medical director of UF Health’s Florida Surgical Center and…

Tatsiana Kryvitskaya, M.D., earns Diagnostic POCUS Certification from ASA

Congratulations to Tatsiana Kryvitskaya, M.D., one of the department’s cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellows, on successfully completing the Diagnostic POCUS Certificate from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). The Diagnostic POCUS Certificate program is focused on developing skills in diagnostic ultrasound of organ systems identified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and…

Charlie Kim, M.D., joins the department at the Ocala Neighborhood Hospital

Charlie Kim, M.D., joined the department as a UF Health physician and medical director at the Ocala Neighborhood Hospital in our Regional Programs Network. He comes to us from TidalHealth in Maryland where he was a staff anesthesiologist and the medical director of ambulatory centers. Prior to TidalHealth, Kim was…

September 2024 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in September! Published faculty were Doctors Berkow, Boezaart, Fahy, Feldheim, Haas, Kumar, Maybauer, Meroney, Reina, Santiago, and Vasilopoulos. Artificial Organs Stukov Y, Rackauskas M, Saha B, Gries C, Weir W, Emtiazjoo A, Maybauer MO. Extended perioperative use of the ProtekDuo cannula for drainage…

Asad Bashir, M.D., and Kenneth John, M.D., join the department

Asad Bashir, M.D., FAAP, and Kenneth John, M.D., joined the UF Department of Anesthesiology as assistant professors in September. Bashir joined the Division of Liver & Transplant Anesthesiology and John joined the Division of Critical Care Medicine. Bashir received his medical degree from Shifa College of Medicine in Islamabad,…

August Faculty Educator of the Month

Please join us in congratulating Federico Jimenez Ruiz, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology in the Divisions of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine, who was chosen by our residents as August’s Faculty Educator of the Month! See some highlights from his nominations below. “Dr. Jimenez Ruiz was an absolute pleasure…

August Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Dylan Schoo, M.D., who has been named our August Resident of the Month! Read on to see some of this excellent physician’s nominations. “Dr. Schoo always steps up to the plate; he is a great colleague and friend.” “Dr. Schoo came in absolute clutch while on mole. He…

Research shows link between faculty mentorship and NIH funding in anesthesiology

A new study co-authored by UF Department of Anesthesiology resident Wendy Guo, M.D., and faculty members Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology & sports medicine, and Brenda Fahy, M.D., professor of anesthesiology, was recently published by the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia (online ahead of print). Their article, “…

Two new faculty join the department

Please join us in welcoming two new faculty members who have recently joined the Department of Anesthesiology. Emuejevoke “Voke” Chuba, M.S., M.D., joins the Divisions of Critical Care Medicine and Cardiothoracic Anesthesia as an assistant professor and Spencer Moreland, M.D., joins the Divisions of Critical Care Medicine and Liver &…

August 2024 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in August! Published faculty were Doctors Berkow, Davies, Frantz, Maybauer, Przkora, Reina, Smith, Spiess, Tighe, and Vasilopoulos. ACS Sensors Yan H, Tian Z, Ziegenbein E, Liu Y, Santana A, Veige AS, Spiess B, Tan W, Zeng Y. Heparin-bead extraction enhanced fluorogenic aptamer-thrombin composite…

2024 IHAF winners

Congratulations to Svetlana Chembrovich, M.D.; Everett Jones, M.D.; Timothy Feldheim, M.D.; Amir Jafari, D.O.; Matthew Meroney, M.D.; and Federico Jimenez Ruiz, M.D. for their selections as 2024 recipients of education awards from the I. Heermann Anesthesia Foundation (IHAF). IHAF Education Awards encourage and support scholarly pursuits designed to enhance…

Department of Anesthesiology pilots new model for paired period

The Department of Anesthesiology’s 2024 paired period team has successfully piloted a new model for the important work of helping anesthesiology interns transition into the operating room. The paired period is an essential way that the department provides mentorship, guidance, and support to interns during a challenging period of…

Department appoints new assistant program directors

Congratulations to Tim Feldheim, M.D., and David Hutchinson, M.D., who have each been named assistant program directors in the department’s anesthesiology residency program. Feldheim, assistant professor in the Divisions of Pain Medicine, Multispecialty Anesthesia, and Vascular Anesthesia, has been named assistant program director of Resident Wellbeing. “It’s a huge…

John Heinbockel, M.D., MSEE, granted FASA designation

Dr. John Heinbockel, assistant professor of anesthesiology, has been designated a Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (FASA). The ASA recognizes its fellows as those anesthesiologists who have demonstrated their contributions and commitment to patient care, education, and the future of the specialty. It is the highest designation…

July Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Laurie Davies, M.D., who has been named the July Faculty Educator of the Month by our residents! Dr. Davies is a professor of anesthesiology in the Divisions of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Pediatric Anesthesiology, holds a joint appointment as a professor of surgery, and is the medical director of…

Alberto Bursian, M.D., joins UF Health Pain Medicine – Halifax Health

Alberto Bursian, M.D., joined us in August 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. Dr. Bursian received his medical degree and completed his anesthesiology residency here at the University of Florida.

Residents selected for Housestaff Quality and Patient Safety Committee

Congratulations to Kellen Creech, D.O., for being selected the new co-chair of the Housestaff Quality and Patient Safety Committee (HQPSC)! Congratulations also to Dawei Guan, M.D., and Kendal Jenkins, M.D., for being selected as first-year members of the committee. All were selected based on their motivation to move quality care…

July Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Kellen Creech, D.O., who has been named our July Resident of the Month by his colleagues! Read on for some nomination quotes about this fantastic physician. “Kellen is a great co-resident, a calming presence on any call team, and is very organized in his clinical management. He’s always…

Two new faculty join the department

We’re pleased to welcome two new faculty members to the Department of Anesthesiology. Kevin Priddy, M.D., and Andrey Suprun, M.D., both joined the Division of Acute Pain Medicine as assistant professors on August 5, and have both recently completed our Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine (RAAPM) Fellowship Program. Dr.

July 2024 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in July! Published faculty were Doctors Boezaart, Fahy, Garvan, Giordano, Gravenstein, Howell, Martynyuk, Maybauer, Millan, Modave, Morey, Nin, Price, Rawal, Reina, Seubert, Soberon, Spiess, Tighe, Vasilopoulos, and Zhang. Anesthesia and Analgesia Howell K, Garvan C, Amini S, Kamyszek RW, Tighe P, Price CC, Spiess…

Resident scores in top 10% on BASIC Exam

Congratulations to third-year resident Allyson Tragesser, M.D., for her outstanding performance in June’s American Board of Anesthesiology BASIC Exam! Dr. Tragesser, who was the recipient of the 2022 J.S. Gravenstein Award, scored in the top 10% of all residents who took the exam nationwide. This excellent result is…

Three new faculty join the department

We’re excited to welcome three new faculty to the Department of Anesthesiology, all of whom joined us last week as assistant professors. Erika Taco Vasquez, M.D., joins us in the Division of Acute Pain Medicine, Julie-Ann Thompson, M.D., joins us in the Division of Obstetric Anesthesia, and Bharath Vasudevan, MBBS,…

Research highlights benefits of continuous cefazolin infusion in spinal surgery

Several Department of Anesthesiology colleagues have recently published a research paper in the Journal of Clinical Medicine titled “Dosing Cefazolin for Surgical Site Infection Prophylaxis in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery: Intermittent Bolus or Continuous Infusion?—A Pilot Study” (available online ahead of print). Their study examined the efficacy of different…

Welcome to our 2024 CCM and RAAPM fellows

Two physicians join our Critical Care Medicine Fellowship and two join our Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship. Please join us in welcoming them to the Department of Anesthesiology! Incomng Critical Care Medicine Fellows…

2024 faculty promotions

Please join us in congratulating Laurie Davies, M.D., and Albert Robinson, III, M.D., who have both been promoted to the rank of clinical professor. Promotion in the Department of Anesthesiology represents consistent hard work, dedication, and commitment to the goals of our institution. We’re grateful to Dr. Davies and Dr.

June Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Dustin Hegland, M.D., who was named by our residents as the June Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Hegland is a physician at Malcom Randall Veteran Affairs Medical Center and is a courtesy clinical assistant professor with our department. Read on for some of the highlights from his…

Welcome to our 2024 pain medicine and endoscopic spine fellows

Six physicians join our Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship program and two physicians join our Endoscopic Spine Fellowship program. Join us in giving them a warm welcome to the Department of Anesthesiology! Incoming Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellows…

June Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Tyler McKenzie, M.D., who was chosen by his fellow residents as our June Resident of the Month! See some of the quotes from his nominations below. “Always comes through and willing to help us as fellow residents. Went above and beyond what is expected of him. Has a…

APSF continues Technology Education Initiative with quantitative neuromuscular modulation simulation software developed at CSSALT

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF), in collaboration with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), has launched a new piece of simulation software developed by our department’s Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT). This course, Quantitative Neuromuscular Monitoring (QNM), was officially released at the…

Welcome to our 2024 cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellows

Five physicians join our Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship program for the 2024-2025 academic year. Please join us in welcoming them! Anthony Barrios, M.D. Dr. Barrios earned his medical degree and completed his anesthesiology residency here at the University of Florida. He was also one of our chief residents during the…

June 2024 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in June! Published faculty were Doctors Andoniadis, Dooley, Fahy, Garvan, Howell, Janelle, Maybauer, Nin, Peng, Przkora, Reina, Reynolds, Seubert, Sibille, Tighe, Vasilopoulos, Jeffrey White, and Zhang. Anesthesia and Analgesia Kakalecik J, Satchell C, Root KT, Vasilopoulos T, Patrick MR, Talerico MT, Krupko TA, Nin…

Charlie Slowey, MB, BCh, BAO, joins the department

We’re pleased to welcome Charlie Slowey, MB, BCh, BAO, who joined the department this month as an assistant professor in the Divisions of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine. Slowey received his medical degree from University College Cork, Ireland, where he graduated with honors. He then completed his anesthesiology residency,…

Welcoming our 2024 residents

As the new academic year begins in earnest, we’re thrilled to welcome our incoming cohort of residents! Each year, our department conducts hundreds of interviews to ensure our incoming residents are among the most remarkable in the nation. We’re more than confident we’ve succeeded; the 25 physicians joining us…

Shigeharu Tsuda, Ph.D., joins faculty

Shigeharu Tsuda, Ph.D., transitioned from a postdoctoral associate to assistant scientist in the Division of Research last month. Tsuda earned his M.S. in kinesiology from Indiana University. He also earned an M.S. in animal sciences and a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine, both here at the University of Florida.

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., named at-large GMEC member

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology and director of our multidisciplinary pain medicine fellowship, has been appointed as an at-large member of Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC). The GMEC is responsible for the oversight and administration of each of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited programs, which…

May Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Tom Guyton, M.D., assistant professor in the division of multispecialty anesthesiology, for being named our May Faculty Educator of the Month! Read on for some quotes from his nominations. “Dr. Guyton is a top-tier attending. I love working with him because of the time that he takes during…

May Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Meena Kanhai, M.D., who has been chosen by her colleagues as the May Resident of the Month. Read some quotes from her nominations below. “Meena always works hard and goes beyond the call of duty for her patients. She is reliable and flexible. Her bedside manner is exemplary…

Education and excellence at FSA 2024

Faculty, residents, and staff from the Department of Anesthesiology had a great weekend at the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA) Annual Meeting held June 7-9, 2024 at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida. The department contributed eight posters and four podium presentations to the event, and Department of…

Residents participate in our annual Basic Skills Boot Camp

Twenty-two residents beginning their second year of anesthesiology residency participated in a week of workshops and lectures to prepare them for their first clinical anesthesiology year (the CA-1 year). The 2024 Basic Skills Boot Camp was held the first week of June and included training in a variety…

Unique case detailed in recent article by Drs. AbuRahma, Goldstein, and Robinson

The Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia has recently published online ahead of print a new case report co-authored by UF Department of Anesthesiology faculty members Joseph AbuRahma, M.D., Chris Goldstein, M.D., and Albert Robinson III, M.D., along with colleagues from the Divisions of Cardiovascular Medicine…

Casey Miller, MSN, APRN, joins UF Health Pain Medicine – Halifax Health

The Department of Anesthesiology is pleased to welcome Casey Miller, MSN, APRN, to UF Health Pain Medicine – Halifax Health. Miller will be joining Mark Bender, M.D., as a nurse practitioner. Miller received his nursing degree from Santa Fe College, and is a recent graduate from the University of Phoenix,…

Pediatric anesthesia bootcamp enhances skills with interactive activities

A recent training event at the University of Florida College of Medicine brought together fellows and faculty from several institutions for an immersive learning experience. Coordinated by faculty and staff from the UF Department of Anesthesiology, the Southeast Pediatric Anesthesia Regional (SPEAR) Transition to Practice Bootcamp was held on…

May 2024 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in May! Published faculty were Doctors Bose, Crus Beltrán, Fahy, Frantz, Garvan, Gatica, Janelle, Loeb, Maybauer, Mohamed, Nin, Pitkin, Sullivan, Vasilopoulos, and Wenzel. Aging Bean L, Bose PK, Rani A, Kumar A. Serine racemase expression profile in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal…

Eduardo Walker, M.D., selected for resident position on JGME editorial board

Congratulations to Eduardo Walker, M.D., who has been selected for a resident position on the editorial board of the Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME)! The goal of JGME is to enhance the quality of postgraduate physician education through the dissemination of high-quality research. As a resident editor, Walker…

Medical student mentored by Dr. Kumar honored for research

A student in the University of Florida’s Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) was honored on May 7 for his research under the mentorship of Sanjeev Kumar, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology. Taylor Calibo, MSEE, received the prestigious Lawrence M. Goodman Trust Award for his presentation, titled “A Method for…

April Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Thorsten Haas, M.D., director of patient blood management and professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology, for being chosen as the April Faculty Educator of the Month! Read on for some quotes from his nominations. “It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Dr. Haas for Faculty Educator…

Pain Medicine Fellowship receives grant from Medtronic

We are pleased to share that Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., and the Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship have once again been awarded the annual Pain Therapies Fellowship Grant from Medtronic Giving Connection. This grant will help in the training of our next generation of pain medicine physicians. Funding this year will…

April Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Jon Vardanyan, M.D., our April Resident of the Month! See some of the quotes from his nominations below. “An incredible worker who always shows up well prepared for his cases. Always asks what else can be done and makes the day fun and entertaining as well.” “Really goes…

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., to receive faculty enhancement opportunity

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic & sports medicine, has been selected to receive a Faculty Enhancement Opportunity (FEO) award. She will use the FEO funding to attend a series of American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) workshops for the purpose of completing its…

April 2024 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in April! Published faculty were Doctors AbuRahma, Cruz Beltran, Berkow, Downs, Frantz, Garvan, Chris Goldstein, Heidi Goldstein, Maybauer, Modave, Pitkin, Reynolds, Robinson, Spiess, and Vasilopoulos. Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia Santonocito C, Cassisi C, Chiarenza F, Caruso A, Murabito P, Maybauer MO, George S,…

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., co-authors study that examines early predictor of stroke recovery

Stroke has just published a new study co-authored by Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic & sports medicine. This meta-analysis, titled “Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation and Functional Outcome After Ischemic Stroke,” investigates the relationship between dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA)…

March Physician Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Reed Kamyszek, M.D., who was chosen by our residents as the March Physician Educator of the Month! Dr. Kamyszek is currently one of our Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellows, and was chosen this month in recognition of his ability to easily communicate his extensive knowledge to residents. “Dr. Kamyszek…

March Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Allyson Tragesser, M.D., our March Resident of the Month! Read some of her nominations to see why Dr. Tragesser was chosen by her colleagues for this award. “I recently worked with Allyson over the span of a couple weeks. She seems to always be prepared, looks for opportunities…

William Mulvoy III, M.D., MPH, MBA, joins the department

William Mulvoy III, M.D., MPH, MBA, joined us this month as an assistant professor in the Divisions of Critical Care Medicine and Cardiothoracic Anesthesia. He earned his medical degree, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Public Health at Saint George’s University in Grenada. He completed his internal medicine internship…

March 2024 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in March! Published faculty were Doctors Andoniadis, Boezaart, Garvan, Giordano, Gravenstein, Haas, Kumar, Martin, Modave, Price, Przkora, Reina, Shah, Sibille, Smith, Tighe, and Vasilopoulos. Anesthesia and Analgesia Ilfeld BM, Smith CR, Turan A, Mariano ER, Miller ME, Fisher RL, Trescot AM, Cohen SP,…

Department of Anesthesiology resident mentors students

As part of the Medi-Gators mentorship program at the University of Florida College of Medicine, first-year anesthesiology resident Javier Garcia, M.D., is leading a group of medical students and undergraduates in a project designed to enhance patient understanding of the preoperative process. The project, titled “Preparing for Surgery, an…

Department of Anesthesiology holds 50th MOCA course

The Department of Anesthesiology recently held its 50th in-person Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) session, continuing a series of high-quality in-person simulations that began in 2014. The sessions draw on the resources of the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT), combining first-class simulation and…

Emeritus Professor André Boezaart, M.D., Ph.D., earns FASRA designation

The American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) and Pain Medicine Board of Directors welcomed AndrĂ© Boezaart, M.D, Ph.D., emeritus professor of anesthesiology, as a Fellow of the Society in March 2024. The Fellow of ASRA Pain Medicine (FASRA) recognizes the contributions of prominent members in the field, acknowledges those dedicated…

February Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Karisa Walker, M.D., M.Ed., associate professor of anesthesiology and associate program director of education assessments, who was chosen by our residents as the February Faculty Educator of the Month! Read on for some excerpts from her nominations. “Dr. Walker has an extensive background in educational theory, particularly for…

Resident travels to Jamaica on mission trip

Third-year resident Olesia Merinova, M.D., recently returned from a mission trip to Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, Jamaica. The trip, organized by Cardiac Kids Foundation of Florida (CKFF), took place under the supervision of David Vener, M.D., professor of anesthesiology at Baylor College of Medicine and James Spaeth, M.D.,…

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., appointed to the Communications and Website Committee for the AUA

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology and director of our multidisciplinary pain medicine fellowship, has been appointed to the Communications and Website Committee for the Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA). Przkora was chosen for his leadership attributes and dedication to academic anesthesiology. The Communications and Website Committee for the…

February Resident of the Month

Congratulations to our February Resident of the Month, Nathan Eshenroder, M.D.! Dr. Eshenroder was selected for this award by his colleagues in recognition of his tireless effort and selfless attitude. Read some quotes from his nominations below. “Nate is a great teammate. He is always looking to help out…

February 2024 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in February! Published faculty were Doctors Giordano, Janelle, Kumar, Maybauer, Pitkin, Reina, Reynolds, Robicsek, Shah, Sullivan, Vasilopoulos, and Walker. American Journal of Surgery Penev Y, Ruppert MM, Bilgili A, Li Y, Habib R, Dozic AV, Small C, Adiyeke E, Ozrazgat-Baslanti T, Loftus TJ,…

2024-2025 chief residents selected

We are pleased to announce the appointment of our three new chief residents for the upcoming academic year. Alex Horowitz, D.O., Bobby Houston, M.D., and Georgeanna Tsoumas, D.O., will serve from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. The position of chief resident is an important role, and members of…

Staff honored with UF Superior Accomplishment Awards

We are excited to announce that two of our staff members—Kathy Parrish, MBA, and Abbey Doege—have been honored with 2024 Superior Accomplishment Awards for their outstanding contributions to our department and institution! Winners of the Superior Accomplishment Awards are nominated by supervisors, peers, and customers. They have shown a consistent…

A Q&A with FSA president Chris Giordano, M.D.

We recently had an opportunity to chat with Chris Giordano, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and director of the Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship. Dr. Giordano is also the current president of the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA) and was recently named the Phase 2/3 Teacher of the Year for the…

A Q&A with Andrey Suprun, M.D.

Andrey Suprun, M.D., is currently a fellow in our Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship (RAAPM) Program, and will be joining us in the fall as an assistant professor in the Division of Acute Pain Medicine. We sat down with Dr. Suprun to discuss his journey in the…

Robert Tokhunts, M.D., Ph.D., joins the department

Robert Tokhunts, M.D., Ph.D., joined the department last month as an assistant professor in the Division of Critical Care Medicine. Tokhunts earned his Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and was a neuroscience fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. After…

Celebrating research in the Department of Anesthesiology

Faculty, staff, residents, fellows, and students gathered last week for the 2024 Department of Anesthesiology Celebration of Research, held at the UF Health Heart & Vascular Hospital. The event, an annual tradition, is an opportunity for members of the department to display the collaboration, mentorship, and rigor…

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., voted into the Society of Teaching Scholars

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery & sports medicine, has been voted into the University of Florida Society of Teaching Scholars (STS) by current society members. Vasilopoulos, who is the current chair-elect of the American Statistical Association’s Statistical Consulting Section and a statistical editor for the…

January Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Trevor Sudweeks, D.O., who was chosen by our residents as our Faculty Educator of the Month. Dr. Sudweeks is an OPS physician here in the department. Read on for some quotes from his nominations. “Dr. Sudweeks is a wonderful educator who makes learning stress free and something to…

Dr. Berkow heads up new study at UF Health

Lauren Berkow, M.D., FASA, professor of anesthesiology and chief of the division of neuroanesthesiology, is the primary investigator for the University of Florida on a new multicenter, international study. The International obServational sTudy on AiRway manaGement in operAting room and non-operaTing room anesthEsia (STARGATE) study will collect data…

January Resident of the Month: Casey Taylor, D.O.

Congratulations to Casey Taylor, D.O., who was chosen by his colleagues as the January Resident of the Month! Dr. Taylor’s colleagues couldn’t say enough about his hard work and positive attitude. Read some quotes from his nominations below. Dr. Taylor is a wonderful resident, always goes above and beyond helping…

January 2024 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in January! Published faculty were Doctors  Boezaart, Cruz-Beltran, Garvan, Gravenstein, Martynyuk, Modave, Morey, Przkora, Peng, Reina, Seubert, Sibille, and Vasilopoulos. BMC Urology Conic RRZ, Vasilopoulos T, Devulapally K, Przkora R, Dubin A, Sibille KT, Mickle AD. Hypertension and urologic chronic pelvic pain…

Janos Geli, M.D., Ph.D., joins the department

Janos Geli, M.D., Ph.D., joined the Department of Anesthesiology in February as an assistant professor of anesthesiology in the Division of Critical Care Medicine. Geli earned his medical degree from University of Pecs Medical School in Hungary and subsequently completed work as a research fellow, attained a Ph.D., and…

Dr. Giordano voted Phase 2/3 Teacher of the Year

Chris Giordano, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and director of the Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship, has been named the Phase 2/3 Teacher of the Year for the UF College of Medicine for 2022-23. “This award is particularly special because it is entirely voted on by the students,” wrote Shireen Madani Sims,…

Physician Anesthesiologists Week

The UF Department of Anesthesiology is joining healthcare providers nationwide in honoring our talented physician anesthesiologists during Physician Anesthesiologists Week. Our anesthesiologists are dedicated to delivering top-notch care to our patients prior to, during, and after surgical procedures. Leveraging their specialized medical education and training, they excel in making crucial…

Doctors Modave and Brennan mentor med students with AI projects

François Modave, Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology and associate chair for research, and Meghan Brennan, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of anesthesiology, are mentoring future doctors with artificial intelligence (AI) projects. The University of Florida College of Medicine and the Intelligent Clinical Care Center awarded six medical students the Oberndorf Clinical…

December Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to associate professor of anesthesiology Joshua Sappenfield, M.D., who was chosen by our residents as the December Faculty Educator of the Month! Check out some of the comments from his nominations to see why our residents love working with this talented physician. “Dr. Sappenfield is a great teacher, always…

Patent awarded to Doctors Suprun and Hutchinson

We’re pleased to congratulate Andrey Suprun, M.D., and David Hutchinson, M.D., on being issued a patent for their new technology, “Intravenous Tubing Venting Assembly.” The patent describes a method and intravenous tubing apparatus which provides air bubbles with a venting path that does not permit fluid passage. Suprun…

December Resident of the Month: Jarrett Schmidt, D.O.

Congratulations to Jarrett Schmidt, D.O., who was chosen by his colleagues as the December Resident of the Month! Read some quotes from his nominations to see why this award is so well deserved. “An intellectual force of nature. He was extraordinarily helpful on multiple occasions, providing direct help to fellow…

Maria Ă–hrn, M.D, joins the department

Maria A. K. Ă–hrn, M.D., joined the Department of Anesthesiology in January as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Ă–hrn is a “triple gator,” having completed her bachelor’s degree, medical degree, and anesthesiology residency here at the University of Florida. She was also a clinical instructor/special fellow…

December 2023 publications

Congratulations to all those who had work published in December! Published faculty were Doctors Bose, Fahy, Ihnatsenka, Reynolds, Sibille, Le-Wendling, Maybauer, Vasilopoulos, and Wardhan. A&A Practice Nimma S, Gans A, Wardhan R, Allen W. Remimazolam sedation and neuraxial anesthesia in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis undergoing an open…

November Resident of the Month: Kevin Marfiak, D.O.

Please help us congratulate our November Resident of the Month, Kevin Marfiak, D.O.! Dr. Marfiak was chosen as Resident of the Month by his colleagues thanks to his positive and dependable attitude. See some of his nominations below. “Very positive, supportive part of the team! Always eager to learn…

Burhan Kazaal, M.D., joins the department

Burhan Kazaal, M.D., joined the department this month as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Kazaal earned his medical degree from Damascus University in Damascus, Syria.  After working as a primary care physician at Riyadh Central Hospital in Saudi Arabia for several years, he came to…

November Faculty Educator of the Month: Thomas Austin, M.D.

Congratulations to Thomas Austin, M.D., who has been selected by our residents as the November Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Austin is a professor of anesthesiology and associate chief in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology. He was recently one of 10 department faculty to receive a 2023…

Dr. Mohamed and Dr. Howell Awarded RAPiDS Grants

Two Department of Anesthesiology faculty have received RAPiDS (Rapid AI Prototyping and Development for patient Safety) Cycle 2 Grants to support artificial intelligence-aided projects to enhance patients’ postsurgical outcomes and maximize resource efficiency. Basma Mohamed, MBChB, associate professor and chief of the Division of Perioperative Medicine, was awarded a…

UF Health to participate in patient-focused research project

UF Health will take part in implementing a patient-focused research project as part of an award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The UF Health site is one of six in the United States and Canada.  Joshua Sappenfield, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and emergency medicine, is the…

Halifax Health | UF Health Spotlight: Jeanelle Brown, M.D.

Jeanelle Brown, M.D., joined us last December as chief of anesthesiology at Halifax Health | UF Health. Since then, she has taken the lead on a number of initiatives, noting that their success is due to the support of UF Health and Halifax Health leadership. “I am proud of…

November 2023 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in November! Published faculty were Doctors Austin, Chapin, Berkow, Boezaart, Brennan, Fahy, Frantz, Kumar, Maybauer, Mohamed, Nin, Price, Przkora, Reynolds, Smith, Vasilopoulos, and Zasimovich. Books Berkow, LC. Emergency anesthesia procedures. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press; 2023. 334 p. Reynolds PS. A guide…

Chris Edwards, M.D., appointed MOCA Minutes question author

Congratulations to Chris Edwards, M.D., who has been invited to serve as a question author for the American Board of Anesthesiology’s (ABA) MOCA Minute Pediatric Anesthesiology Committee. Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) Minute questions are designed to help anesthesiologists keep up-to-date with changing trends and industry advancements…

Kayser Enneking, M.D., honored by UF Women in Medicine and Science

Kayser Enneking, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedics, was recently honored by UF Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) for her professional excellence, contribution as a role model, and outstanding leadership. Enneking, who also received the UF College of Medicine’s Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year, shared…

October Faculty Educator of the Month

Please help us congratulate Patrick Millan, M.D, who was chosen by our residents as the October 2023 Faculty Educator of the Month. Dr. Millan is an assistant professor in the division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, and it’s no surprise to see him win this award. He was recently one…

October Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our October Resident of the Month, Elaine Kerr, M.D.! Dr. Kerr’s colleagues can’t say enough about what a pleasure she is to work with, both because of her clinical expertise and her personal interactions. Read on for some of her nominations. “Elaine is another…

October 2023 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in October! Published faculty were Doctors Austin, Dooley, Edwards, Fahy, Garvan, Gonzalez, Gravenstein, Jafari, Kumar, Maybauer, Meroney, Modave, Mora, Przkora, Sappenfield, Spiess, and Vasilopoulos. Anesthesiology Vail EA, Feng R, Sieber F, Carson JL, Ellenberg SS, Magaziner J, Dillane D, Marcantonio ER, Sessler DI, Ayad…

Shiv Rawal, M.D., joins the department

Shiv Rawal, M.D., joined the department this month as an assistant professor of anesthesiology in the Divisions of Critical Care Medicine and Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology. Rawal earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, and completed his anesthesiology residency at Barnes Jewish Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis,…

Kathleen McDonald, D.O., M.A., joins the department

Kathleen McDonald, D.O., M.A., joined the department last month as an assistant professor in the division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. McDonald earned her medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA, and holds a M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval…

September Faculty Educator of the Month: Chris Goldstein, M.D.

Please help us congratulate Chris Goldstein, M.D, who was chosen by our residents as the September 2023 Faculty Educator of the Month. Dr. Goldstein is affiliated anesthesiology faculty based at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. Our residents used words like “compassionate,” “patient,” and “exciting” to describe his work…

September Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our September 2023 Resident of the Month, Bobby Houston, M.D.!  Dr. Houston’s colleagues have noted his skill and commitment to teamwork. Read on for some quotes from his nominations. “Bobby has tackled several tough cases with aplomb this rotation. He was always willing to help…

10 faculty receive 2023 Exemplary Teacher Awards

We are pleased to announce that 10 Department of Anesthesiology faculty members have received the Exemplary Teacher Award for 2023. 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,…

Abigail Schirmer, M.D., selected president-elect of ASA Resident Component

Abigail Schirmer, M.D., CA-1, who once presented a research poster at the 2016 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) annual meeting as a University of Florida undergraduate, returned from this year’s conference as president-elect of the ASA Resident Component. Schirmer, who was elected unanimously, is the first female…

Critical Care Medicine adds skills labs to grand rounds

The Department of Anesthesiology has begun to integrate hands-on skill labs into Critical Care Medicine (CCM) Grand Rounds. As part of the transition from the purely virtual grand rounds sessions developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, professor of anesthesiology Felipe Urdaneta, M.D., presented the first of a new series of…

Joseph AbuRahma, M.D., joins the department

Joseph AbuRahma, M.D., joined the department this month as an assistant professor in the Divisions of Cardiothoracic and Liver & Transplant Anesthesiology. AbuRahma earned his medical degree at Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, WV. He then completed both his anesthesiology residency and his cardiothoracic anesthesia…

September 2023 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in September 2023! Published faculty were Doctors Boezaart, Brennan, Chembrovich, Fahy, Garvan, Ihnatsenka, Kumar, Le-Wendling, Pitkin, Przkora, Reina, Reynolds, Robicsek, Sappenfield, Smith, Tighe, Vasilopoulos, and Zasimovich. Advanced Biology Guo X, Akanda N, Fiorino G, Nimbalkar S, Long CJ, ColĂłn A, Patel A,…

Meera Ramsooksingh, M.D., M.S., joins the department

Meera Ramsooksingh, M.D., M.S., joined the department this month as an assistant professor in the divisions of neuroanesthesiology and vascular anesthesia. Ramsooksingh received her M.S. in neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh and her medical degree from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, FL.

August Faculty Educator of the Month: Jordan Phillips, M.D.

Please help us congratulate Jordan Phillips, M.D., who was chosen by our residents as the August 2023 Faculty Educator of the Month. Dr. Phillips joined us as an assistant professor in July in the Division of Critical Care Medicine after completing his fellowship with us, so it’s fair to…

August Resident of the Month: Ryan Belk, D.O.

Please help us congratulate our August 2023 Resident of the Month, Ryan Belk, D.O.! Dr. Belk’s colleagues have noticed that he’s always stepping up for the team, and they decided a little recognition was long overdue. Read on for some quotes from his nominations. “Dr. Belk is a secret…

Sarah Blake, M.D., joins the department

Sarah Blake, M.D., joined the department last month as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Blake earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She completed her anesthesiology residency and pain management fellowship, as well as a research fellowship, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Blake comes…

August 2023 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in August 2023! Published faculty were Doctors Austin, Boezaart, Dooley, Edwards, Enneking, Gonzalez, Gravenstein, Janelle, Maybauer, Nin, Price, Pitkin, Reina, Reynolds, Robicsek, Sullivan, and Wenzel. ASAIO Journal Brewer JM, Broman LM, Maybauer MO. A Plea for Adoption of the Common ECLS…

Tips from residents for a successful virtual interview

Interview season for residency programs is coming up, and members of our Resident Recruitment Committee were kind enough to share their insight about preparing for the experience. Read on for their tips, as well as an excerpt from an upcoming Q&A with Tim Martin, M.D., professor of anesthesiology…

New Endoscopic Spine Fellowship officially begins

The Department of Anesthesiology is excited to welcome Rohan Sarna, M.D., the first fellow of our new Endoscopic Spine Fellowship under the direction of Sanjeev Kumar, M.D. Endoscopic spine surgery is a groundbreaking, minimally invasive technique that can address a wide range of pathologies with only a small…

2023-24 resident committees announced

We’re excited to officially announce our resident committees for the 2023-24 academic year. Our talented residents form these committees to help ensure that everyone in our residency program is getting the very best possible experience. This is also the first year that we have a resident Anesthesia Performance Improvement Committee…

July 2023 Faculty Educator of the Month: Svitlana Smolenchuk, M.D., Ph.D.

Please help us congratulate the July 2023 Faculty Educator of the Month, assistant professor of anesthesiology Svitlana Smolenchuk, M.D., Ph.D.! Dr. Smolenchuk was chosen because of the amazing educational experiences she’s provided for residents and fellows here in the department. Read on for some quotes from her nominations.

July Resident of the Month: Michael Jones, M.D.

Please help us congratulate our July 2023 Resident of the Month, Michael Jones, M.D.! Dr. Jones was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for his attitude, professionalism, and teamwork. Below are some of the quotes from his nominations. “Dr. Jones volunteered (without duress) to relieve someone late…

Federico Jimenez Ruiz, M.D., joins the department

Federico Jimenez Ruiz, M.D., joined the department in July as an assistant professor in the divisions of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine. Jimenez Ruiz earned his medical degree from Universidad CES in Medellin, Colombia, and completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Minnesota. He then completed a regional…

2023 simulation fellows

The department is excited to welcome two new simulation fellows at the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT)! Hyunyoung Lim, M.D., Ph.D., earned her medical degree and Ph.D. from Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, Republic of Korea. She completed a residency and fellowship…

July 2023 publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in July of 2023! Published Department of Anesthesiology faculty were Doctors Boezaart, Dooley, Edwards, Euliano, Gonzalez, Ihnatsenka, Jimenez-Ruiz, Le-Wendling, Maybauer, Smith, and Reynolds. Anesthesia and Analgesia Jimenez-Ruiz F, Dooley FC, Gonzalez SN, Edwards CM. Imbalance in clinically meaningful variables. Anesth Analg. 2023;137(2):e13-e14. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000006559…

Presurgical clinic prepares to roll out innovative improvements

A team of care providers and staff from the UF College of Medicine and UF Health is working to optimize the evaluation of patients prior to surgery as part of an initiative under the patient care pillar of the college’s five-year strategic plan.

Jordan Phillips, M.D., joins the department

Jordan D. Phillips, M.D., joined us in July as an assistant professor in the division of Critical Care Medicine. Phillips received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, and also completed his anesthesiology residency there, where he acted as co-chief resident and received the 2022 John…

2023 regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine fellows join the department

Six physicians began their regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine fellowships with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Juan Acosta, M.D. Dr. Acosta earned his medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá D.C., Colombia. He completed a pediatrics residency at MedStar Georgetown University…

Chris Samouce, Ph.D., joins faculty

Chris Samouce, Ph.D., has been promoted to assistant scientist in the division of research and will continue to work with the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT). He joined CSSALT in October as a software engineer. Samouce earned both his B.S. and Ph.D. in physics from…

June Resident of the Month: Hadia Maqsood, M.D.

Please help us congratulate our June 2023 resident of the month: Hadia Maqsood, M.D.! Dr. Maqsood was Resident of the Month last July, so her fellow residents and faculty are no strangers to the qualities that make her an excellent leader and physician. Below are some quotes from this…

2023 critical care medicine fellows

Three physicians began their critical care medicine fellowship with us this summer. Each of them has recently completed their emergency medicine residency right here at the University of Florida. Please help us welcome them to the next stage of their training in the department! Nhi Luu. D.O. Dr. Luu…