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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 Award

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrating research in the Department of Anesthesiology

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

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

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

January Faculty Educator of the Month

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

Dr. Berkow heads up new study at UF Health

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

Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D, voted into the Society of Teaching Scholars

Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology and director of the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT), has been voted into the University of Florida Society of Teaching Scholars (STS) by current society members. “We recognize your ongoing commitment to education and know that you will continue to…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Doctors Modave and Brennan mentor med students with AI projects

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

December Faculty Educator of the Month

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

Patent awarded to Doctors Suprun and Hutchinson

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

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

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

Maria Öhrn, M.D, joins the department

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

Tom Guyton, M.D., joins the department

Tom Guyton, M.D., rejoined the UF Department of Anesthesiology faculty this month as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology. Guyton earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his anesthesiology residency here at the University of Florida. After completing an NIH Training Grant at the…

Cyndi Garvan, Ph.D., on research team funded by NIDCR

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has awarded a five-year, $3,692,175 grant to the University of Florida College of Dentistry and the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine. This funding aims to establish an academic multidisciplinary practice-based research network within and between the two dental schools.

December 2023 publications

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

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

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

Burhan Kazaal, M.D., joins the department

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

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

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

Dr. Mohamed and Dr. Howell Awarded RAPiDS Grants

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

UF Health to participate in patient-focused research project

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

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

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

November 2023 publications

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

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

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

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

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

October Faculty Educator of the Month

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

October Resident of the Month

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

October 2023 publications

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

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

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

10 faculty receive 2023 Exemplary Teacher Awards

We are pleased to announce that 10 Department of Anesthesiology faculty members have received the Exemplary Teacher Award for 2023. Eligible faculty are nominated from each department and participate in a college-wide competition. Faculty are selected based on the excellence of their teaching of medical students, residents and fellows,…

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

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

Critical Care Medicine adds skills labs to grand rounds

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

September 2023 publications

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

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 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…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

Yosaf Zeyed, M.D., M.S., Joins Faculty

Yosaf Zeyed, M.D., M.S., joined us on Aug. 1 as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesia. He joins us from West Virginia University, where he served as assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology since 2018. Dr. Zeyed earned his medical degree from Benghazi University and his…

2022 Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellows Join the Department

Six physicians began their Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Sean Beplate, M.D. Dr. Beplate earned his medical degree at the Trinity School of Medicine and completed an anesthesiology residency at Cook County Health & Hospitals…

2022 Multidisciplinary 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! Shreya Aggarwal, D.O. Dr. Aggarwal earned her medical degree at the University of North Texas and completed an anesthesiology residency at the University of Texas. During her residency, Dr.

June 2022 publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in June 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Brennan, Caruso, Cruz Beltran, Doré, Fahy, Garvan, Goettel, Gravenstein, Howell, Janelle, Loeb, Martin, Martynyuk, McGough, Morey, Peng, Pitkin, Przkora, Sappenfield, Sullivan, Tighe, Wardhan, Jeffrey White, Peggy White, and Vasilopoulos! American Journal of Infection…

Amanda Frantz, M.D., appointed interim chief for Critical Care Medicine

We are pleased to announce that Amanda Frantz, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, has been named interim chief of the Division of Critical Care Medicine. In this role, Dr. Frantz will ensure that patients receive high-quality care and serve as a contact point for faculty and staff to…

2022 Fellows for Combined CT & CCM and Pediatric Anesthesiology Join the Department

Welcome to our new Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine Fellow and Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellow! Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine Bronson Crawford, M.D. Dr. Crawford earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He completed a combined emergency medicine/internal medicine residency at East Carolina University where he…

2022 Critical Care Medicine Fellows Join the Department

Seven physicians began their Critical Care Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Manuel Borobia, M.D. Dr. Borobia earned his medical degree at Florida International University and completed an emergency medicine residency here at the University of Florida. Dr. Borobia was chief…

Five Questions with a Resident Graduate: Krupesh Dave, M.D.

We are so proud of all of our 2022 graduates! We caught up with Krupesh Dave, M.D., to hear about his time with us and what is next for him. Q: Where are you headed to next? A: I’m staying at the University of Florida to complete a…

Four faculty promoted in 2022

Congratulations to our four faculty who were promoted effective July 1, 2022! Christopher Giordano, M.D.: promoted to clinical professorOlga “Kiki” Nin, M.D.: promoted to clinical associate professorTerrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D.: promoted to research associate professorYury Zasimovich, M.D.: promoted to clinical associate professor Promotion is a significant professional…

2022 Cardiothoracic Fellows Join the Department

Four anesthesiologists began their Adult Cardiothoracic Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Joseph AbuRahma, M.D. Dr. AbuRahma earned his medical degree at Marshall University in Huntington, WV., and completed his anesthesiology residency here at the University of Florida. Dr. AbuRahma was recognized…

New role for Brandon Lopez, M.D.

We are pleased to announce that Brandon Lopez, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, has been named medical director for CRNA/CAA services on the academic campus. In this role, Dr. Lopez will enhance communication among the CRNAs/CAAs and other parties such as the department, serve as a liaison and advocate for…

Celebrating the Class of 2022

Residents, fellows, faculty and families gathered on June 25th to celebrate the end of residency or fellowship and the beginning of their next journey. Some will be going far – Dr. Fritz-Gerald Charles will be traveling across the country to a cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship at Stanford University – but many…

Celebrating our May 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our May 2022 Resident of the Month: Scott Smith, M.D., CA-2! Dr. Smith 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. “Super…

UF anesthesiology has strong showing at FSA 2022

The Department of Anesthesiology sent nine posters and had two podium presentations at the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA) Annual Meeting held June 10-12 at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida. The FSA Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of anesthesiologists in the southeastern United States. Also at the…

May 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in May 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Arnold, Cruz Beltran, Fahy, Garvan, Giordano, Gravenstein, Lampotang, Pitkin, Price, Przkora, Sappenfield, Sullivan, Tighe, Vasilopoulos, and Wesley. BioMed Research International Hatamabadi H, Sabaghian T, Sadeghi A, Heidari K, Safavi-Naini SAA, Looha MA, Taraghikhah N,…

Research expands use of clock drawing test for dementia screening

The Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN) group has developed a novel machine learning tool to enhance the scoring of the clocking drawing test, a method of screening patients for dementia. The study is the first to use semi-supervised deep learning methods to analyze digital clock drawings. The findings, which…

Residents learn essential skills in 2022 Basic Skills Boot Camp

The 2022 Basic Skills Boot Camp prepared our intern class for the challenges of their first clinical year of residency through a dedicated week of lectures and simulation training. Over five days from June 6-10, residents received instruction on topics such as anesthesiology measurements and checks, emergency medicine, airway management…

Two residents inducted into UF chapter of Gold Humanism Honor Society

Congratulations to second-year residents Harmeet Bawa, M.D., and Mundeep Bawa, M.D., who have been inducted into UF’s Resident Chapter of the national Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). They were nominated by their peers for induction into the organization, which comprises medical students, residents, faculty, and other leaders who serve…

Happy CAA Week!

As valued members of our anesthesia team, our certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs) are dedicated, highly educated and extensively trained in the delivery and maintenance of quality anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques, life support systems and patient assessment. Many thanks to these highly dependable team players who…

UF anesthesiology alum receives Gaston Labat Award from ASRA

Brian Ilfeld, M.D., a graduate of the department’s regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine fellowship (‘01), was honored with the prestigious 2022 Gaston Labat Award from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine (ASRA). Ilfeld is currently a professor of anesthesiology at the University of California San…

In Memoriam: Robert Roy Kirby, M.D., Colonel, USAF, MC

We are saddened to share the news that Robert Roy Kirby, M.D., Colonel, USAF, MC (retired), a professor in the UF Department of Anesthesiology for 21 years, has died. Kirby was a pioneer in developing ventilation concepts and bringing them to patients, as well as a prolific author. He focused…

Ilan Keidan, M.D., retires after more than 20 years at UF

We are saying farewell this spring to Ilan Keidan, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, as he retires after more than 20 years at UF, including the past 16 on faculty. Keidan completed his anesthesiology residency at UF after earning his medical degree from Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University…

Dr. Tighe named associate dean for AI application & implementation

Photo by Jesse S. Jones Patrick Tighe, M.D., M.S., has been named associate dean for AI application & implementation in the UF College of Medicine. In this new role, Tighe will leverage his experience in AI to improve our understanding of clinical operations and patient safety using advanced analytical…

Celebrating our April 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our April 2022 Resident of the Month: Nicole Premo, M.D., CA-3! Dr. Premo 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. “She…

Allyson Tragesser Receives 2022 J.S. Gravenstein Award

We are excited to announce that Allyson Tragesser, M.D., is the recipient of the 2022 J.S. Gravenstein Award for Excellence in Anesthesiology. This award is presented each year to an outstanding University of Florida College of Medicine graduate who intends to pursue anesthesiology. Tragesser, who will join the Department…

Quality improvement efforts showcased at UF Health Patient Safety and Quality Week

The department showcased its quality improvement efforts in interventional pain procedures, obstetric anesthesia, and simulation training at this year’s UF Health Patient Safety and Quality Week poster session on Wednesday, May 18. Four posters from the Department of Anesthesiology were on display during the event. Patient Safety and Quality Week,…

Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship receives 4th consecutive Golden Apple Award

The Department of Anesthesiology’s Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship has been honored with the Golden Apple Award for Clinical Science from the graduating medical student class for the fourth consecutive year! Chris Giordano, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and director of the clerkship, accepted the award during the College of…

How to prepare for the anesthesiology residency BASIC Exam

Anesthesiology residents take the American Board of Anesthesiology BASIC Exam at the end of their first clinical year (CA-1) in June. It is the first of three staged examinations required for certification (the others are the Advanced and Applied). How We Prepare Our Residents Residents experience a steep…

April 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in April 2022! Our faculty who were published are Drs. Fahy, Garvan, Goettel, Loeb, Mohamed, Price, Seubert, and Vasilopoulos! BMC Research Notes Safavi-Naini SAA, Farsi Y, Alali WQ, Solhpour A, Pourhoseingholi MA. Excess all-cause mortality and COVID-19 reported fatality in Iran (April…

Dr. Przkora appointed chair of ASA Abstract Review Subcommittee

Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed to a one-year term as chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Abstract Review Subcommittee on Chronic and Cancer Pain. The appointment will become effective Oct. 26, 2022, and conclude on Oct. 18, 2023.  Przkora, professor of anesthesiology, chief of the Division of…

Reflection on a year of leadership: A Q&A with the 2021-22 chief residents

At the end of March, our 2021-22 chief residents, David Hutchinson, M.D., Nicole Premo, M.D., and Bill Mallett, M.D., passed the torch to the next group of leaders. These residents provided exemplary leadership and enthusiasm during a challenging year. We caught up with them to ask how they reflect…

Medical students mentored by Dr. Tighe honored for research

Two students in the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) were honored this spring for their research under the mentorship of Patrick Tighe, M.D., M.S., associate professor of anesthesiology and the Donn M. Dennis, M.D., Professor in Anesthetic Innovation. Tatiana Maser ’24 received the…

Pain Medicine Fellowship awarded Abbott and Medtronic grants

The Division of Pain Medicine has been awarded grants from Abbott and Medtronic to support the Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship. The funding will help the fellowship train the next generation of leaders in pain medicine; facilitate clinical, basic, and translational research activities; enhance efforts to provide the highest quality…

Celebrating our March 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our March 2022 Resident of the Month: Matthew McGee, M.D., CA-2! Dr. McGee 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. “He…

March 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in March 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Fahy, Ihnatsenka, Le-Wendling, Mohamed, Nin, Peng, Pitkin, Przkora, Robicsek, Smith, Soberon, Sullivan, Tighe, Vasilopoulos, and Zasimovich! Annals of Thoracic Surgery Bleiweis MS, Philip J, Peek GJ, Fudge JC, Sullivan KJ, Co-Vu J, Gupta…

Fourth-year resident delivers keynote at Accepted Medical Student Weekend

Fritz-Gerald Charles, M.D., a fourth-year resident, was honored with the opportunity to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Emerald Ball, part of Accepted Medical Student Weekend and a culmination of the UF College of Medicine’s Celebration of Diversity Week. The keynote on Saturday, April 9, was intended to…

UF anesthesiology residents win four awards at GAARRC 2022

Our residents took home four out of six total awards at the 46th annual Gulf Atlantic Anesthesia Residents’ Research Conference (GAARRC) hosted by the Mayo Clinic from April 8-10. The department sent six residents to the conference and took home first place in the original research category and first, second,…

UF undergraduate to join Sylvain Doré’s lab through University Scholars Program

UF undergraduate student Saba Khan ’23 has been selected for the University Scholars Program for the College of Medicine and will conduct a full research project under the mentorship of Sylvain Doré, Ph.D., FAHA, professor of anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry, pharmaceutics, and neuroscience. Saba will begin her research during…

Dr. Peng earns Diagnostic POCUS Certificate from ASA

Yong G. Peng, M.D., Ph.D., FASE, FASA, professor of anesthesiology and chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, has become the first in the department to earn the newly updated Diagnostic POCUS Certificate from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). The educational certificate is the only program created…

Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship named UF GME Program of the Year

We are excited to announce that the Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship has been named the UF Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program of the Year for 2021-2022. Nominations were accepted only from housestaff and a GME selection committee chose the winner. The fellowship was selected from among 67 highly competitive…

2022-2023 chief residents selected

The Anesthesiology Education Office and the Department of Anesthesiology Leadership are pleased to announce the selection of our three new chief residents for the upcoming academic year. Shahrukh Bengali, M.D., Bryan Stevens, M.D., and Andrey Suprun, M.D., will serve from April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023. To be selected,…

Celebrating our February 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our February 2022 Resident of the Month: Muna Oli, M.D., CA-1! Dr. Oli 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.

CRNA leadership appointed at regional anesthesia programs

Please help us congratulate our new CRNA leadership at our regional anesthesia programs! At Halifax Health, Nikki Rosace, CRNA, has been appointed chief CRNA. David Hoehn, CRNA, has been appointed vice chief CRNA. At UF Health Central Florida, Eva Berry, CRNA, has been appointed co-chief CRNA along with Karen…

Pain Medicine Fellowship to participate in ASRA Meet & Greet

The UF Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship will participate in a Virtual Meet & Greet with applicants from 8-10:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7. UF’s program was one of the most highly requested to be represented at the inaugural networking event organized by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain…

Kelly Spaulding retires after more than 30 years with Department of Anesthesiology

Kelly Spaulding, who worked tirelessly to make our residents and fellows feel at home and serve our faculty, retired this March after more than 30 years with the Department of Anesthesiology. Kelly’s unparalleled event-planning skills, knowledge, and good cheer have been vital to the successful operations of the Anesthesiology…

February 2022 Publications

Congratulations to everyone who had publications in February 2022! Our faculty who were published are: Drs. Boezaart, Cometa, Doré, Fahy, Meroney, Nin, Przkora, Reina, Reynolds, Soberon, Vasilopoulos, and Victor! Anesthesiology Cometa MA. Cervical injury after videolaryngoscopy in patient with ankylosing spondylitis: comment. Anesthesiology. 2022 Mar 1;136(3):517. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000004106.

Joseph AbuRahma, CA-3, elected into Alpha Omega Alpha

Fourth-year resident Joseph AbuRahma, M.D., has been elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honor Medical Society. AΩA, which was founded in 1902, is the only allopathic medical honor society in the United States. Election into the society is a lifelong honor that represents a commitment to professionalism, leadership,…

Patrick Millan, M.D., joins the department

Patrick Millan, M.D., joined us in March as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology in the Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesia. He graduated from our Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship in June 2021 and has worked since at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. Dr. Millan earned his medical degree from Florida State…

New Endoscopic Spine Fellowship expands training in most advanced pain interventions

The Division of Pain Medicine at UF Health has added a new fellowship that will allow interventional pain physicians to gain additional skills in the most advanced endoscopic spine surgery techniques. The comprehensive Endoscopic Spine Fellowship was added in response to the division’s success using minimally invasive techniques to treat…