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October 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

Juan Mora, M.D, associate professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the October 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Mora’s nominations praise his clinical teaching as he helps residents become more confident and informed. One resident said Dr. Mora “prioritized my education with every patient, improving my…

October 2025 Resident of the Month

Jonah Whiteside, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the October 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Whiteside’s nominations say that it is easy to work with him due to his positive attitude and great humor. A co-resident said he is “clinically strong and always a well-prepared resident with a…

Study examines link between harassment and burnout in pediatric anesthesiology fellowships

Karisa Walker, M.D., M.Ed., associate professor of anesthesiology, is the lead author on a recently published research report in Pediatric Anesthesia examining the prevalence of sexual harassment (SH) among pediatric anesthesiology fellowship program directors, associate program directors, and fellows. Her paper, “Harassment and Burnout in Academic…

October 2025 publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in *October! Our faculty with publications were Drs. AbuRahma, Bose, Fahy, Goldstein, Maybauer, Peng, Rawal, Sappenfield, Sibille, and Vasilopoulos. Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia van Nispen J, Bradley G, Rackauskas M, Rawal SB, Mulvoy W, Maybauer MO. Venoarterial Extracorporeal Life Support in Circulatory…

14 faculty receive 2025 Exemplary Teacher Awards

We are pleased to announce that 14 Department of Anesthesiology faculty members have received the UF College of Medicine Exemplary Teacher Award for 2025. Eligible faculty are nominated from each department and participate in a college-wide competition. Faculty are selected based on the excellence of their teaching of medical…

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

David Jablonski, Jr., M.D., is a CA-2 resident with a medical degree from the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine. Additionally, he has a undergraduate degree from UF. He is interested in pursuing a regional fellowship after residency. Shout out to Amanda Frantz, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, for…

September 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

Bharathram Vasudevan, MBBS, M.D, assistant professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the September 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Vasudevan’s nominations highlight his helpful and effective teaching methods. One resident said, “I have worked with Dr. Vasudevan in several settings including the OR, ICU, and now…

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

The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology recently launched a research administration internship program for recent graduates interested in the administrative processes that support research initiatives. Interns learn about research compliance, grants and awards, project finances, and more. Martin Noguera, M.S., CRA, CPRA, assistant director of research administration, leads…

UF Department of Anesthesiology makes waves at Anesthesiology 2025

University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology members attended this year’s American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) annual meeting with faculty, staff, fellows, and residents sharing more than 25 posters and participating in numerous sessions, discussions, and panels. Held in San Antonio, Texas, from October 10-14, 2025, the ASA conference provided an…

Abigail Schirmer, M.D., receives ASA Resident Distinction Award

Abigail Schirmer, M.D., CA-3 resident, has been recognized by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) with the Resident Distinction Award, which was created for anesthesiology residents to develop their professional citizenship, leadership, and scholarship capabilities. She is the first University of Florida anesthesiology resident to receive this new designation, which…

September 2025 Resident of the Month

Melanie Vargas, M.D., was chosen by her peers as the September 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Vargas’ nominations praise her helpfulness and pleasant attitude. “Melanie is an outstanding resident who is always not only willing but happy to help the team. She brings an enjoyable attitude to both work…

September 2025 publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in September! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Beltran, Brennan, Chapin, Davies, Feldheim, Garvan, Gravenstein, Janelle, Lampotang, Martynyuk, Morey, Pitkin, Price, Samouce, Sullivan, Tighe, and Walker. Advances in Anesthesia Feldheim TV, Brennan M, Tighe P. The Current Use of Artificial…

Hadia Maqsood, MBBS, joins the department

Please help us welcome Hadia Maqsood, MBBS, to the UF Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in the Division of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine (RAAPM). Maqsood has an extensive history with the department, where she completed her anesthesiology residency and RAAPM fellowship. During her time as a…

August 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

Erika Taco Vasquez, M.D, was chosen by our residents as the August 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Vasquez’s nominations point out that residents enjoy her courses due to her calm presence and welcoming personality. “Dr. Vasquez is always so calming,” one resident said. “She comes into the room,…

Three clinical directors of research have been appointed

The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology leadership team has named three new clinical directors of research. Congratulations to Sebastián Gatica-Morris, M.D., T. Everett Jones, M.D., and Gevalin Srisooksai, M.D., on their appointments. Gatica-Morris will serve as the clinical director of research for the Division of Neuroanesthesiology. He joined…

August 2025 Resident of the Month

Steven Ayala, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the August 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Ayala’s nominations highlight his helpfulness and flexibility. “He really went out of the way to make my paired experience better,” One of his co-residents said. “He taught well and allowed me to make…

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., receives accolades from two journals

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine, has received accolades from two different journals. She has been invited to join the BMC Medical Education journal as an editorial board member. Additionally, a paper that she co-authored has been recognized with an award by the…

August 2025 publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in August! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Beltran, Boezaart, Gravenstein, Lampotang, Pitkin, Reina, Samouce, Shah, Sullivan, Trippensee, and Wardhan. Annals of Thoracic Surgery Bleiweis MS, Philip J, Fudge JC, Beltran SC, Sullivan KJ, Narasimhulu SS, Pitkin AD, Gupta D, Bilgili A, Brinkley…

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., appointed to two ASA committees

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., FASA, professor of anesthesiology, has been appointed to two American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) committees, which focus on academics. He will fulfill a two-year adjunct term for ASA’s 2026 Committee on Academic Anesthesiology. He will also engage in a one-year member term for ASA’s 2026 Educational…

2025 IHAF winners

Congratulations to Asad Bashir, M.D., Zeeshan Khan, Ph.D., and Kelena Klippel, M.S., who received 2025 I. Heermann Anesthesia Foundation (IHAF) Education Awards. Faculty members Prodip Bose, M.D., Ph.D., Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., Ryan Parker, M.D., and Anatoly E. Martynyuk, Ph.D. are co-investigators and mentors on these projects. The IHAF encourages…

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

Meet Paola Nathaly Silva Enriquez, M.D., a talented and dedicated member of our anesthesiology residency program. After completing her medical degree at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Facultad de Medicina in Colombia, Enriquez joined our team as an intern in 2024. As she embarks on her first clinical…

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

Please help us welcome Walter Johnson, M.D., who joined the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology and UF Health as a pain medicine specialist at the Ocala Neighborhood Hospital (ONH). As the medical director of pain medicine services at ONH, he plays a key role in expanding advanced…

July 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month

Josh Sappenfield, M.D, associate professor of anesthesiology, was chosen by our residents as the July 2025 Faculty Educator of the Month! Dr. Sappenfield’s nominations pointed out that his lectures are well-organized and easily digestible. One nomination said he “does a great job making complex concepts easier to understand.” Another resident…

July 2025 Resident of the Month

Dimitri Kampouris, M.D., was chosen by his peers as the July 2025 Resident of the Month! Dr. Kampouris’ nominations highlight his reliability and hard work. One nomination said he “performed at a high level during an overnight case involving an intraop code.” He also “reliably completed any task asked of…

Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., named a Distinguished Professor

Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., the Jerome H. Modell, M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology, and professor of neurosurgery and periodontology, has been named a Distinguished Professor by the University of Florida (UF). This award is one of UF’s highest faculty recognitions and is held by only seven other College of Medicine faculty members.

July 2025 publications

Congratulations to all who had articles or book chapters published in July! Our faculty with publications were Drs. AbuRahma, Berkow, Davies, Edwards, Fahy, Garvan, Jimenez, Jones, Kumar, Maybauer, Meroney, Mora, Nin, Przkora, and Vasilopoulos. Annals of Cardiac Anesthesia Landolt L, Goldstein JC, Weir W, Rackauskas M, AbuRahma J.

Shakthi Jayanthy Venkatachalam, MBBS, joins the department

Please join us in welcoming Shakthi Jayanthy Venkatachalam, MBBS, to the UF Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in the Division of Obstetric Anesthesia. Venkatachalam earned her medical degree at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Coimbatore, India, where she also did her internship, and completed…

Three residents score in the top 10% on BASIC Exam

Three CA-2 residents scored in the top 10% nationally on the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) BASIC Examination in June. Congratulations to Victor Adepoju, M.D., Dimitri Kampouris, M.D., and Rohan Patel, M.D., on their outstanding performance! The BASIC Examination is the first exam of the ABA board…

Welcome 2025 pain medicine and endoscopic spine fellows

Six physicians joined our Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship, and two anesthesiologists joined our Endoscopic Spine Fellowship. Please help us welcome them to the department! Incoming Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellows…

Research on anesthesia’s impact on brain and gut health featured at 2025 World Congress of Neuropsychopharmacology

New research from the Department of Anesthesiology’s Martynyuk Laboratory was highlighted at the 2025 World Congress of Neuropsychopharmacology in Melbourne, Australia, held from June 15-18. Presented by Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., the study explored how exposure to the commonly used anesthetic sevoflurane may influence brain and gut health across generations—findings that…

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

Please join us in welcoming Elvio Andres Mazzotta, M.D., to the UF Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in the Division of Neuroanesthesiology. Mazzotta earned his medical degree at the National University of CĂłrdoba in Argentina where he also completed an anesthesiology residency at a private hospital. After this…

June 2025 publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in June! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Berkow, Boezaart, Brennan, Fahy, Jones, Martynyuk, Reina, Reynolds, and Vasilopoulos. Anesthesiology Epstein RH, Dexter F, Fahy BG. Inpatient postoperative mortality: comparing patients hospitalized preoperatively to those having elective surgery. Anesthesiology. 2025;143(1):62-70. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000005477 Biology Khan…

Welcoming new residents to our program

The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology is excited to welcome new residents to our team! For each academic year, the department interviews and screens many prospective residents that are among the best in the nation. This year we received 1,400 applications and interviewed over 200 candidates for…

Six faculty members promoted in 2025

Six of our faculty members were promoted this year, effective July 1, 2025. Congratulations to Meghan Brennan, M.D., Cole Dooley, M.D., Christopher Edwards, M.D., Amanda Frantz, M.D., Sanjeev Kumar, M.D., and Juan Mora, M.D.! Kumar was promoted to clinical professor, while Brennan, Dooley, Edwards, Frantz, and Mora earned the clinical…

From learners to leaders: celebrating our 2025 resident graduates

The University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology gathered to celebrate a significant milestone for its graduating residents on Saturday, June 14. The event, which took place at the Champion’s Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, was filled with heartfelt speeches, well-deserved awards, and emotional tributes. In addition to recognizing each…

UF Anesthesiology shines at the FSA Annual Meeting

Faculty, residents, fellows, and staff from the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology shared knowledge and research at the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA) Annual Meeting held June 6-8, 2025, at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida. Department members presented 14 posters and led 11 sessions or workshops…

May 2025 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in May! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Chapin, Dooley, Edwards, Gravenstein, Jimenez Ruiz, Le-Wendling, Martynyuk, Maybauer, Pitkin, Reina, Smith, and Sullivan. Anesthesiology Ju LS, Khan ZA, Gravenstein N, Seubert CN, Setlow B, Martynyuk AE. Intergenerational postoperative neurocognitive disorder…

Gold Humanism Honor Society inducts three anesthesiology residents

We are thrilled to announce CA3 resident Anthony Boateng, M.D., and CA2 residents Kellen Creech, D.O., and Abby Schirmer, M.D., were inducted into the UF Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) chapter on May 2. The GHHS chapter at the UF College of Medicine is called the Chapman Society and is…

April 2025 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in April! Our faculty with publications were Drs. Boezaart, Ihnatsenka, Kumar, Lampotang, Maybauer, Peng, Price, Reina, Reynolds, Samouce, and Schutte. ASA Monitor Kazior M, Feldman J, Samouce C, Lampotang S. APSF launches TEI 3 course: Manual External Defibrillation, Cardioversion,…

Tim Martin, M.D., appointed item writer for HALM exam

Timothy W. Martin, M.D., MBA, FASA, FAAP, professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics and associate chair for education, has been appointed by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) as an item writer for the Health Care Administration, Leadership, and Management (HALM) examination. As an item writer, Martin will help the…

Study shows biplane imaging improves IV placement

A recent research study has evaluated the use of biplane ultrasound imaging for intravenous (IV) catheter placement, examining whether this enhanced approach offers advantages over traditional single-plane methods. Research conducted by Department of Anesthesiology colleagues Ge Qu, M.D., Amanda Frantz, M.D., Cynthia Garvan, Ph.D., Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., and Joshua Sappenfield,…

UF Department of Anesthesiology recognizes excellence in research at 2025 celebration

The 2025 UF Department of Anesthesiology Celebration of Research was held on February 19 at the UF Health Heart & Vascular and Neuromedicine Hospitals. Thirty-three poster abstracts were presented by faculty, fellows, residents, students, and staff that illustrated the broad range of scientific research being undertaken across the department. Faculty…

Timothy Martin, M.D., recognized as outstanding reviewer

Timothy W. Martin, M.D., MBA, FASA, associate chair for education, chief of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, and professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics, was recognized as a 2024 Outstanding Reviewer for the Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME). “High-quality peer review is a vital component of academic scholarship,” said Gail…

What is a certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA)?

Certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAA) are crucial members of the anesthesia care team at the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology. As part of CAA week, we’re highlighting the crucial role that these medical professionals play throughout the perioperative process. What is a certified anesthesiologist assistant? Certified anesthesiologist assistants…

January 2025 Resident of the Month

Congratulations to Alisha Shah, M.D., who was chosen by her colleagues as the January Resident of the Month! Dr. Shah’s nominations praise her for being an exceptional Mole Team leader and for her mentorship and support of her teammates. As Mole Team leader, Dr. Shah’s peers said that she “flawlessly…

Immersing first-year residents in anesthesiology during Intern Education Month

For four weeks at the beginning of each calendar year, first-year residents in the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology participate in Intern Education Month. This rotation is filled with lectures, simulations, test prep, and shadowing. The month leads up to the In-Training Exam (ITE) that all anesthesiology residents take…

January 2025 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in January! Published faculty were Doctors Boezaart, Bose, Chapin, Croft, Garvan, Haas, Howell, Jones, Luria, Maybauer, Millan, Reina, and Tighe. Anesthesia and Analgesia Howell K, Tighe P, Price CC, Garvan C. In response. Anesth Analg. 2025 Feb 1;140(2):e10-e11. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007333.

Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., completes MERC program

Congratulations to Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and orthopaedic surgery & sports medicine, on completing the Medical Education Research Certificate (MERC) Program through the Association of American Medical Colleges! Vasilopoulos, who is also chief of the Division of Education Research and Scholarship for the Department of Anesthesiology, was…

Advances in difficult airway management improve outcomes for cancer patients

Managing a difficult airway is a critical aspect of patient care, particularly in individuals with cancer, whose unique anatomical and physiological features can pose challenges for ventilation and intubation. Current Oncology Reports recently published a review by UF Department of Anesthesiology colleagues Timothy Feldheim, M.D., John Santiago, M.D., and…

December Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to Julie-Ann Thompson, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Obstetric Anesthesia, who has been chosen by our residents as the December Faculty Educator of the Month! Her nominations praised her for fostering a supportive and inspiring learning environment, providing valuable guidance and support to residents, and always being…

What is a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)?

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) are vital members of the anesthesia care team in the University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology, providing support throughout the perioperative process. As part of CRNA week, we’re taking a look at these dedicated healthcare workers and their role in the operating room…

December Resident of the Month

Zeerak Khan, M.D., has been chosen by his colleagues as the Department of Anesthesiology’s December Resident of the Month! Khan’s nominations praise him for being an exceptional clinician who consistently exceeds expectations, is dependable and skilled in handling all cases, and brings positive energy that brightens the team’s day. He…

Tyler Fong, M.D., joins the department

Please join us in welcoming Tyler Fong, M.D., who has joined us as an assistant professor in the Division of Acute Pain Medicine. Fong earned his medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada and completed his anesthesiology residency at Rutgers Health in Livingston NJ, where he…

December 2024 publications

Congratulations to everybody who was published in December! Published faculty were Doctors Garvan, Jafari, Kumar, Martin, Meroney, Reina, Reynolds, Seubert, Sibille, and Vasilopoulos. Anesthesia and Analgesia Martin TW, Steele EA. Substance-use disorders in young patients-much more than preop questions and potential for drug interactions. Anesth Analg. 2024 Dec 1;139(6):1240-1243.

Dr. Martin appointed joint professor of pediatrics

Congratulations to Timothy W. Martin, M.D., MBA, FASA, on being appointed as a joint professor with the Department of Pediatrics! Martin is a professor of anesthesiology, associate chair for education, and chief of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology. He serves on the University of Florida’s College of Medicine Graduate…

November Faculty Educator of the Month

Congratulations to associate professor of anesthesiology Andrew Pitkin, MBBS, MRCP, FRCA, on being named our Faculty Educator of the Month for November! Dr. Pitkin’s nominations praised him for encouraging students to step outside their comfort zones and providing valuable insights into real-world medical practice. Our residents also noted the positive…

A Q&A with Laurie Davies, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and OR medical director

Laurie K. Davies, M.D., recently spoke with us about her career with the University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology. She is a professor of anesthesiology, a joint professor of surgery, an affiliate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and medical director of UF Health Shands Hospital’s operating rooms. Q: You completed…

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…

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…

Dr. Tim Martin reelected to national leadership councils

Timothy W. Martin, M.D., MBA, FASA, associate chair for education, chief of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, and professor of anesthesiology, has been reelected to serve on the council of the Association of Anesthesiology Core Program Directors (AACPD) as well as on the board of the Pediatric Anesthesia Leadership Council…

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…

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…

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 cefazolin…

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…

Residents and faculty celebrated at 2024 graduation

The UF Department of Anesthesiology held the 2024 Residents’ Graduation and Awards Ceremony on June 15 at the Champion’s Club at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Graduation certificates and a number of awards were presented by Interim Department Chair Greg Janelle, M.D., Associate Chair for Education Timothy W. Martin, M.D., MBA,…

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…

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 will…

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…

Transition to Residency course prepares graduating med students

Last week marked an exciting milestone as 136 graduating medical students completed their capstone course: Transition to Residency. Rounding out the course was a dynamic workshop organized by the Department of Anesthesiology. Fifty of these students who are going into procedural specialties delved into nine interactive anesthesia and surgery stations,…

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 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…

E.J. Collins, M.D., CRNA, receives Outstanding Resident Educator Award

E.J. Collins, M.D., CRNA, has been recognized by the UF Society of Teaching Scholars with the 2024 Outstanding Resident Educator Award. This award is presented each year to one individual from every department.  â€śHe has distinguished himself by tirelessly educating fellow residents and medical students over the years,” said the…

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…

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…

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…