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September 2023 publications

Congratulations to everyone who was published in September 2023! Published faculty were Doctors Boezaart, Brennan, Chembrovich, 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, Colón A, Patel A, Tighe…

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.

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

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

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…

Department welcomes residents’ loved ones to Family Anesthesiology Day

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

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…

ECMO emphasized in fifth annual Critical Care Medicine Boot Camp

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

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…

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…

June 2023 publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in June of 2023! Published faculty were Doctors Berkow, Garvan, Modave, Robicsek, Srisooksai, and Vasilopoulos. American Journal of Health Education Wahltinez O, Glasgow S, Cheung A, Glasgow JF, Noguera M, Glasgow JW, Hoalt PN. The Mango Model: best practices in the creation…

Residents receive 100% pass rate on BASIC exam

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

CSSALT awarded grant to develop online defibrillator simulation

A team from the University of Florida’s Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT), led by Chris Samouce, Ph.D., assistant scientist in the UF Department of Anesthesiology, has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Innovators Network to develop an interactive,…

2023 cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellows join the department

Four physicians began their cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Geoffry Burks, D.O. Dr. Burks earned his medical degree from Touro University Nevada College and completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Washington. He enjoys outdoor activities like SCUBA…

Department appoints clinical directors of research

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

2023 pain medicine fellows join the department

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

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., elected chair of Statistical Consulting Section

The American Statistical Association (ASA) has elected Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery & sports medicine, as chair-elect of its Statistical Consulting Section. She will serve as chair-elect in 2024, chair in 2025, and past chair in 2026. Vasilopoulos, who has been a member of…

Five faculty promoted in 2023

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

New Residents join us in 2023

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

Timothy Feldheim, M.D., M.S., joins the department

Timothy Vincent Feldheim, M.D., M.S., joined us in June as an assistant professor in the divisions of Multispecialty Anesthesiology, Vascular Anesthesiology, and Pain Medicine. He joins us from Cincinnati, where he worked as an interventional pain physician in private practice. Dr. Feldheim received his bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular…

UF Anesthesiology leads the way at FSA 2023

More than twenty faculty, residents, and staff from the Department of Anesthesiology had a great weekend at the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting held June 9-11 at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida. Hayden Dohnalek, M.D., who graduated from residency this month and is…

Graduating Resident Class of 2023 Honored

The Department of Anesthesiology held the 2023 Residents’ Graduation and Awards Ceremony on June 17 at the Champion’s Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Interim Department Chair Greg Janelle, M.D., Associate Chair for Education Timothy W. Martin, M.D., MBA, and many faculty, residents, and staff presented the end of the…

May Resident of the Month: Kelley Martin, M.D.

Please help us congratulate our May 2023 Resident of the Month: Kelley Martin, M.D.! Dr. Martin was nominated by her fellow residents and faculty for her consistent hard work and dedication. Below are some quotes from her nominations. “Kelley is a superstar on so many levels. Her preparation of…

Albert Robinson, M.D., and Hamad Sagheer, M.D., attend ASA Legislative Conference

Albert Robinson, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, and Hamad Sagheer, M.D., CA-1, traveled to Washington, D.C., last month to attend the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ 2023 Legislative Conference. Robinson said anesthesiologists from around the country traveled to the capitol to advocate for patient care, preserving safe care for veterans,…

Residents prepare for clinical anesthesiology at 2023 Basic Skills Boot Camp

Twenty Department of Anesthesiology interns had the opportunity to learn essential clinical skills in preparation for their first year of clinical anesthesiology training (CA-1) at the 2023 Basic Skills Boot Camp, held the week of June 5. The sessions are designed to address basic clinical and communication skills to…

UF Anesthesiology travels to Honduras for regional anesthesia outreach project

A team of doctors from the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology recently returned from an outreach trip to Ruth Paz Hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The visit was the final instructional component of a curriculum designed to teach point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) techniques…

May 2023 publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in May of 2023! Published faculty were Doctors Doré, Fahy, Kumar, Lopez, Maybauer, Sappenfield, Schutte, Seubert, Spiess, Tighe, Vose, and Wardhan. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association O’Brien K, Feng R, Sieber F, Marcantonio ER, Tierney A, Magaziner J, Carson JL,…

Leveraging artificial intelligence to improve patient safety and care quality

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

Faculty Awarded Department of Anesthesiology Research Opportunity Funds

The Department of Anesthesiology’s Spring 2023 research funding opportunity, which closed on May 5, awarded five research grants totaling $18,415 to support faculty research. The winners are Michael Franklin, D.O., Amanda Frantz, M.D., Sebastian R. Gatica-Moris, M.D., Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., and Soleil Schutte, M.D. Dr. Franklin’s proposal is…

Pain Medicine Fellowship Receives Grant from Abbott

We are excited to announce that Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., and the Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship program have been awarded a fellowship grant from the Abbott Medical Device Grant Committee. Abbott, which operates in more than 160 countries, produces diagnostics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. It funds a number of…

Dr. Berkow Reelected to Faculty Senate

Lauren Berkow, M.D., FASA, professor of anesthesiology and chief of the division of neuroanesthesiology, has been reelected to the University of Florida Faculty Senate as a representative of the College of Medicine. Dr. Berkow, who has represented the College of Medicine since 2020, will begin her new term in…

April Resident of the Month: Daniel Aine, D.O.

Please help us congratulate our April 2023 Resident of the Month: Daniel Aine, D.O.! Dr. Aine was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for consistently and selflessly supporting his colleagues. Below are some quotes from his nominations. “Always has a positive attitude, always steps up to the plate.

Rohan Patel Receives 2023 J.S. Gravenstein Award

Rohan Patel, M.D., is the recipient of the 2023 JS Gravenstein Award. This award is presented each year to an outstanding University of Florida College of Medicine graduate who intends to pursue anesthesiology. Patel was selected by UF Department of Anesthesiology leadership based on his record of achievements and…

April 2023 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in April of 2023! Published faculty were Doctors Austin, Boezart, Chembrovich, Edwards, Fahy, Garvan, Gravenstein, Ihnatsenka, Le-Wendling, Martynyuk, Maybauer, Mohamed, Morey, Sappenfield, Seubert, Tighe, and Vasilopoulos. Anesthesia and Analgesia Blaine KP, Dudaryk R, Milne AD, Moon TS, Nagy D, Sappenfield JW, Teng JJ. Training…

Department Hosts Visiting Medical Skills Students

Local high school students recently had the opportunity to work on simulators and interact with members of the Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine and Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT). Albert Robinson, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and assistant dean for the Office for Diversity…

Katie Cairnes and Amy Gunnett Win 2023 Rebecca Lovely Outstanding Service Award

Congratulations to Katie Cairnes, assistant director of perioperative analytics, and Amy Gunnett, clinical research manager, for being selected as the winners of the seventh annual Rebecca Y. Lovely Outstanding Service Award! Amy and Katie were nominated by other members of their department for this award, which recognizes exemplary performance,…

Tatsiana Kryvitskaya, M.D., Receives Curriculum Innovation Award

The inaugural SEAd Sprout Awards for best trainee abstracts were presented at the annual Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA) Spring Meeting. Dr. Kryvitskaya received the SEAd Sprout Award for her abstract titled “Implementation of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Curriculum in an Anesthesiology Residency Program at the University of Florida.” Dr.

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

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

Cameron Smith, M.D., Teams Up with Neurology on New NIH Grant

A multidisciplinary team of experts from anesthesiology and acute pain and perioperative medicine, neurology, neurocritical care and neurosurgery at the University of Florida has been awarded a $12.9 million National Institutes of Health grant to test a novel way to relieve pain from headaches stemming from a burst brain…

March Resident of the Month: Tyler Ray, M.D.

Please help us congratulate our March 2023 Resident of the Month: Tyler Ray, M.D., CA-2! Dr. Ray was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for consistently going above and beyond in his duties. He’s described as a “true team player.” Below are some quotes from his nominations.

Department of Anesthesiology Hosts 2023 Ski Summit

The University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology successfully hosted the 2023 Spring Anesthesia Ski Summit last month at the scenic Westgate Park City Resort and Spa in Park City, Utah. The event offered a distinctive platform for healthcare professionals from various institutions and departments across the country to come together,…

Pain Medicine Fellowship Receives Grant from Medtronic

We are excited to announce that Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., and the Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship program have been awarded an educational grant from Medtronic Giving Connection. The annual Pain Therapies Fellowship Grant is one way Medtronic demonstrates its support for the medical community and qualified medical teaching institutions. Medtronic…

March 2023 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in March of 2023! Published faculty were Doctors Berkow, Brennan, Doré, Garvan, Fahy, Haas, Jones, Kumar, Lampotang, Maybauer, Modave, Mohamed, Reina, Sibille, Vasilopoulos, Wardhan, and Peggy White. Anatomy & Cell Biology Carrera A, Chaiyamoon A, Reina F, Iwanaga J, Cateura A, Reina MA,…

Medical Student Mentored by Dr. Brennan Honored for Research

A student in the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) was honored on March 23 for his research under the mentorship of Meghan Brennan, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of anesthesiology. Jonathan Smith ’25 received the Lawrence M. Goodman Trust Award for his research project,…

Department of Anesthesiology Focuses on Research During Annual Event

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

Shahrukh Bengali, M.D., Receives Outstanding Resident Educator Award

We are proud to announce that fourth-year resident Shahrukh Bengali, M.D., was honored with the 2022 Outstanding Resident Educator Award on March 14 at the Celebration of Excellence in Medical Education reception. “I am truly honored to have received this award and am thankful to my own teachers over the…

Raquel Buser, M.D., and John Heinbockel, M.D., MSEE, Join the Department

Raquel Buser, M.D., and John Heinbockel, M.D., MSEE, joined the Department of Anesthesiology in March. Raquel Buser, M.D., joined us as an assistant professor of anesthesiology in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology on March 20. She joins us from Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, CO, where she…

February Resident of the Month: Talles Sidronio, M.D.

Please help us congratulate our February 2023 Resident of the Month: Talles Sidronio, M.D., CA-3! Dr. Sidronio was nominated by his fellow residents and faculty for his hard work and motivation and for going above and beyond in his duties. Below are some of the quotes from his nominations.

February 2023 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in February 2023! Published faculty are: Drs. Martin, Reina, Loeb, Kumar, Haas, Martynyuk, Maybauer, Vasilopoulos, Lampotang, Przkora, Pitkin, Janelle and Sullivan. Anesthesia and Analgesia Connelly NR, Adler AC, Vanderberg LE, Conlin F, Mitchell JD, Goldstein S, Haspel RL; ATEST Collaborators; COLLABORATORS [Martin TW].

2023 IHAF Winners

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

Residency Match 2023

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

UF Team Awarded Champions Cup in SKOAP Study

Congratulations to Juan Mora, M.D., Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Medical Director of the Ayers Pain Medicine Surgical Center, as well as Anesthesiology Clinical Research Manager Amy Gunnett, R.N., CCRC and Clinical Research Coordinator III Amanda Slater! Their University of Florida research team received an award for excellence…

Brandon Peckham, MHA, Named Vice Chair for Finance and Administration

We are thrilled to announce that Brandon Peckham, MHA, has been appointed Vice Chair for Finance and Administration for the Department of Anesthesiology. In this role, Brandon will be responsible for directing and managing the administrative, financial and clinical business planning activities of the department, as well as the regional…

Basma Mohamed, MBChB, Recognized as a 2023 Quality Hero

This week UF Health has been hosting the 2023 Patient Safety Quality Week with speakers, education and poster sessions, and Quality Hero recognitions. Basma Mohamed, MBChB, assistant professor of anesthesiology and assistant program director for resident wellness, was nominated by her colleagues for the Outstanding Clinical Faculty/Advanced Practice…

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

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

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

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

2023-2024 Chief Residents Selected

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

Interns Complete 2023 Intern Education Month

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

Happy 2023 CAA Week!

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

January 2023 Resident of the Month

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

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

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

Resident Gives Back on Mission Trip to Honduras

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

Ben Chapin, M.D., Joins Faculty

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

January 2023 Publications

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

Study Awarded Best Abstract by International Anesthesia Research Society

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

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

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

New CSSALT Simulator Shows Dynamic Changes in Blood Pressure

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

Resident Academic Days Praised for Positive Impact

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

December 2022 Resident of the Month

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

Happy 2023 CRNA Week!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 2022 Publications

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

November 2022 Resident of the Month

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

Medicine’s New Frontier

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

November 2022 Publications

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 Faculty Honored as 2022 Exemplary Teacher Award Winners

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

October 2022 Resident of the Month

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

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

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

October 2022 Publications

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

Celebrate Nurse Practitioner Week 2022

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

UF Health Shands Wins Two National Awards for Environmental Sustainability

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

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

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

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

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

September Resident of the Month

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

September 2022 Publications

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

CSSALT Leads Simulation Workshop for Medical Students

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

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

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

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

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

Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., Awarded R01 Grant

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

Residents Selected for the ASA Resident House of Delegates

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

Celebrating National PA Week

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

CT Fellowship Grads pass Advanced Perioperative TEE exam

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

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

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

APSF Launching Technology Education Initiative Using Software Developed at CSSALT

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

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

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

August 2022 Publications

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Mohamed Accepted into Physician Well-Being Director Course

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Bender, M.D., Joins Halifax Health

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

Three Faculty Certified as Mentoring Consultants

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

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

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

Residents Score Top 10% on BASIC Exam

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

July 2022 Publications

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

François Modave, Ph.D., Joins Faculty

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

Critical Care Medicine Holds 4th Annual Boot Camp

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

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

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

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

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

Pain Medicine Fellowship Receives Grant from Boston Scientific

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