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Education

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.,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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.

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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.

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…

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,…

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…

Celebrating our January 2022 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our January 2022 Resident of the Month: Andrew Bennett, M.D., CA-3! Dr. Bennett 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.

CSSALT uses AI-based simulator to teach surgical site skin preparation

A virtual simulator created by the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) has been enhanced with artificial intelligence to help students learn the fundamentals of surgical site skin preparation, all from the comfort of their own environment. With the goal of improving skin preparation training, David…

Dr. Frantz named co-director of Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship

We are excited to announce that Amanda Frantz, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology in the Division of Critical Care Medicine, has been named co-director of the Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship. In this position, Frantz will work with Chris Giordano, M.D., to provide classroom and clinical training to the…

Many thanks to all who contributed to 2022’s Intern Education Month!

Friday, February 11, 2022, was the last day of our Intern Education Month rotation and we are happy to report that this year was another great success! Intern Education Month is a four-week rotation that is focused solely on didactics and simulations and provides diverse exposure to available resources to…

Taking the Resident In-Training Exam? Here are some post-exam strategies to relax

Anesthesiology residency is a stressful time, especially when it comes to exams. Residents take their In-Training Exam in early February and devote numerous hours to detailed preparation and studying. Some residents may have family or clinical responsibilities to attend to immediately after the exam that prevent lengthy relaxation after…

CSSALT receives grant to develop educational materials for APSF

The Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) has been funded by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) to develop online materials for a new Technology Education Initiative on the APSF website. Screenshot showing the work in progress on educational materials that CSSALT is creating for…

Celebrating our December 2021 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our December 2021 Resident of the Month: Angela Bott, D.O., CA-1! Dr. Bott 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. “Angel…

Celebrating our November 2021 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our November 2021 Resident of the Month: Nick Rahn, M.D., CA-2! Dr. Rahn 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.

Tammy Bleeker, M.Ed., earns TAGME certification

Please help us congratulate Tammy Bleeker, M.Ed., C-TAGME, assistant director of education administration, who has been certified by the National Board for Certification for Training Administrators in Graduate Medical Education. Tammy earned the TAGME certification in November after she completed training and successfully passed an examination. The UF Graduate Medical…

Dr. Przkora elected APPD director-at-large

Congratulations to Rene Przkora, M.D., Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology and chief of the Pain Medicine Division, who has been elected a director-at-large of the Association of Pain Program Directors (APPD). His two-year term began in conjunction with the ASRA 20th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting this November. Przkora served…

Ten faculty awarded Exemplary Teacher Awards for 2021

We are excited to announce that 10 of our faculty have been awarded the Exemplary Teacher Award for 2021! Eligible faculty are nominated from each department and participate in a college-wide competition. Faculty are selected based on the excellence of their teaching of medical students, residents and fellows, graduate students,…

Celebrating our October 2021 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our October 2021 Resident of the Month: Miguel Rovira, M.D.! Dr. Rovira 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. “Team player,…

Four UF anesthesiology residents match into Pain Medicine Fellowship

We are excited to announce that four of our anesthesiology residents have matched into our Pain Medicine Fellowship for 2022-23! James Fleming, M.D., Caitlin Gray, M.D., Uche Ike, M.D., and Sam Searcy, M.D., will continue their training in the department. We asked them what contributed to their decision to…

Celebrating our September 2021 Resident of the Month

Please help us congratulate our September 2021 Resident of the Month: Trevor Sudweeks, D.O.! Dr. Sudweeks 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. “The man…

Faculty, residents and fellows represent UF anesthesiology at ASA 2021

Thousands of anesthesiology professionals from around the world attended the 2021 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting held Oct. 9-12 in San Diego, CA. The meeting is the world’s largest anesthesia-educational event focused on the science and practice of anesthesiology. It allows anesthesiology professionals to…

Muna Oli, M.D., appointed to UF GME CLER Council

Second-year resident, Muna Oli, M.D., has been appointed as one of two resident representatives to the University of Florida Graduate Medical Education Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) Council. Timothy Martin, M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology and Associate Chair for Education, recommended Oli to the council which seeks housestaff perspectives on the…

Cardiothoracic Fellowship graduates pass Advanced Perioperative TEE exam

The four recent graduates of our Cardiothoracic Fellowship program, Jordan Brewer, M.D., Matt Gunst, M.D., Patrick Millan, M.D., and Oliver Schantz, M.D., have all successfully passed their Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography examination (Advanced PTEeXAM®). The examination of special competence, which is administered by the National Board of Echocardiography, allows physicians…

Celebrating our July and August 2021 Residents of the Month

Please help us congratulate our newest Residents of the Month! These residents were nominated by their fellow residents and faculty for their hard work, motivation and for going above and beyond in their duties. Below are some of the quotes from their nominations. July 2021 Resident of the…

Resident Spotlight: Blessing Ogbemudia, M.D.

Blessing Ogbemudia, M.D., earned his undergraduate degree at Ohio State University and attended Indiana University for medical school. This past spring, he was honored by the UF Health nursing staff with the LEAD Resident Award for his outstanding performance in promoting high-quality patient care. He is now in his…

Resident Spotlight: Karolain Garcia, M.D.

Karolain Garcia, M.D., grew up in Miami, FL, and earned her undergraduate degree at Florida International University before attending Florida State University for medical school. She is now in her third year in our program.   We asked her a few questions about her experience in our anesthesiology residency program so far and…

Two Residents Elected to Housestaff Council

Congratulations to third-year resident Andrew Neff, D.O., and second-year resident Alicia McLeod, M.D., who have been elected to serve as the anesthesiology representatives on the 2021-22 University of Florida College of Medicine Housestaff Council! Neff will serve as hospital relations chair as part of the council’s…

Critical Care Fellows Gain Hands-on Experience in 3rd Annual Bootcamp

Critical care fellows from four departments practiced essential skills on simulation equipment and learned from new faculty during the third annual multidisciplinary Critical Care Medicine Bootcamp this August. The three-day bootcamp provided fellows with a common foundation as they begin their training, which is particularly important given that critical care…

Two Residents Score in Top 10% on BASIC Exam

Congratulations to third-year residents Nick Rahn, M.D., and Matt Reed, M.D., who scored in the top 10% of the American Board of Anesthesiology BASIC Exam in June 2021! Scoring in the top 10% nationally is a testament to these residents’ hard work and dedication. “Mastering the…

June 2021 Resident of the Month: Krupesh Dave, M.D.

Please help us congratulate our Resident of the Month! June 2021 Resident of the Month: Krupesh Dave, M.D. “Dr. Dave is a silent hero. He constantly offers to help co-residents or anesthetists without complaint. He always offers to stay late. He never complains and is consistently a team player.

Welcome 2021 CTCC & Peds Fellows

Welcome to our new Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine Fellow and Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellow! Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine Shiv Rawal, MD Dr. Rawal earned his medical degree at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and completed his anesthesiology residency at Barnes Jewish Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis. Dr.

Welcome 2021 Pain Medicine Fellows!

Physicians began their Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Mark Bender, Julia Eidelman, Jeff Pence, Nikhil Makhija, Viswanath Ramaswamy!

Welcome 2021 Cardiothoracic Fellows!

Four anesthesiologists began their Adult Cardiothoracic Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Clifford Deerman, M.D. Dr. Deerman earned his medical degree at the University of Alabama School of Medicine at Birmingham and completed his anesthesiology residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, where…

Welcome 2021 Critical Care Medicine Fellows!

Three physicians began their Critical Care Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Beulah Castor, MD Dr. Castor earned her medical degree from the University of Florida and completed her residency in emergency medicine at Orlando Health. She has participated in research…

2021 Fellowship Graduates: Where are they headed next?

Our Pain Medicine Faculty, Fellows, and their families celebrating graduating at Lake Wauburg. The 2021 graduates of our fellowship programs celebrated the milestone in small groups at various locations in recent weeks. We are extremely proud of each of our graduates for their hard work and dedication to…

Welcome 2021 Acute & Perioperative Pain Medicine Fellows!

Six anesthesiologists began their Acute and Perioperative Pain Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! W. Kirk Fowler, MD Dr. Fowler earned his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina and completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Florida.

Two residents inducted into UF chapter of Gold Humanism Honor Society

Congratulations to fourth-year resident, David Hutchinson, M.D., and recent graduate Milu Thakkar, M.D., who were inducted into UF’s Resident Chapter of the national Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). Hutchinson and Thakkar were nominated by their peers for induction into the organization, which comprises medical students, residents, faculty, and other…

New residents join the department

Twenty-six physicians began their Anesthesiology Residency with us this summer, including four graduates of the University of Florida College of Medicine. Please help us welcome them to the team! Interested in joining our residency program? Find out how to apply here. First-Year Residents (PGY-1/Intern) Nnamdi Achebe, M.D. Undergrad: University of…

New AI Fundamentals course educates anesthesiology residents in emerging field

Anesthesiology residents now have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI) through a yearlong course developed and taught by J. Chris Goldstein, M.D., and Heidi Goldstein, M.D., both affiliated anesthesiology faculty based at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. Inaugural course Seventeen residents participated in the inaugural…

Class of 2021 Residents Recognized

At the first in-person celebration in over a year, the residents of our Class of 2021 were recognized for their achievements and hard work over the past four years. The ceremony at Touchdown Terrace in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium marked a return to normalcy as UF Health’s successful vaccine campaign…

Residents learn essential skills in 2021 Basic Skills Boot Camp

Twenty-one of our residents had the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills in preparation for their first clinical anesthesia year during this year’s Basic Skills Boot Camp. Over four days of the first week of June, residents received instruction on topics such as anesthesiology measurements and checks, emergency…

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…

Dr. Ogbemudia Honored by Nursing Staff for Outstanding Patient Care

Congratulations to anesthesiology intern Blessing Ogbemudia, M.D., who has been honored with the LEAD Resident Award presented by UF Health Shands Hospital nursing staff for his outstanding performance in promoting high-quality patient care. The award recognizes a resident who has gone above and beyond professionally and in their patient…

Dr. Reina is Co-Editor of New Textbook on Cervical Plexus Anatomy

Congratulations to Miguel Reina, M.D., Ph.D., a courtesy clinical professor of anesthesiology, who is an editor of a new textbook titled Surgical Anatomy of the Cervical Plexus and its Branches. Reina is also a coauthor on four chapters in the book, which was published by Elsevier in April 2021.

Residents of the Month

Please help us congratulate our Residents of the Month! February Resident of the Month: Aaron Hanson, M.D.  Dr. Hanson has consistently worked hard, willingly changed his schedule for the benefit of his colleagues, stepped up in multiple difficult cases to assist the attending, and served as a patient advocate. Special Recognition:…

2021-2022 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. David Hutchinson, M.D., Bill Mallett, M.D., and Nicole Premo, M.D. will serve from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. To be selected,…

January 2021 Resident of the Month

Congratulations goes out to second-year resident Matthew Frakes, DO, for being voted the January Resident of the Month! Residents are nominated by their fellow residents and faculty in recognition of their hard work and one individual each month is chosen for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Dr. Frantz appointed ABA examiner for APPLIED Examination

Congratulations to Amanda Frantz, MD, who has been appointed to serve as an American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) examiner for the APPLIED Examination. In this position, she will play a critical role in the future of our specialty as part of a select group that helps the ABA identify…

Match Day 2021: Twenty-five physicians match with UF Anesthesiology

Twenty-five physicians have matched with our department to begin their Anesthesiology Residency with us in the upcoming academic year, including three graduates of the University of Florida College of Medicine. This year, our department interviewed approximately 270 candidates for the 20 positions of the categorical rank and five positions…

New transplant rotation available to residents

Anesthesiology residents now have the option to gain specialized experience with transplants through a dedicated 2-week rotation. Residents in their second and third clinical years who have had cardiovascular, neuro, and pediatric experience are eligible for the rotation. Residents on this rotation will have preference for lung, liver, and adult…

February 26 Is National Thank a Resident Day!

Residency is an integral period in medical training. We know that our residents work tremendously hard and are a vital part of our healthcare team. They are crucial resources for medical students and their fellow lower-level residents. This day, and every day, we thank our residents for their commitment to…

Neuroanesthesiology Fellowship Receives International Accreditation

The Department of Anesthesiology’s Neuroanesthesiology Fellowship has received international accreditation, becoming only the 20th such program worldwide to receive that distinction from the International Council on Perioperative Neuroscience Training (ICPNT). The strength of the department’s application was the breadth and dedication of the faculty in the Division…

Three Residents Scored Top 10% BASIC Exam

Third-year residents Joseph Aburahma, MD, Bill Mallett, MD, and Jay Nwokolo, MD, each scored in the top 10% of the American Board of Anesthesiology BASIC Examination in August, 2020. Scoring in the top ten percent among those who took the exam is a testament to the hard work and dedication…

Resident Spotlight: Fritz-Gerald Charles, MD

Fritz-Gerald Charles, MD, earned his undergraduate degree in Pre-Health Professions from Florida Atlantic University before attending UF’s College of Medicine. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology from Barry University in 2009, and an Associate of Arts in Pharmacy from Broward College in 2006. Now a third-year resident,…

Resident Spotlight: Lauren Smajdor, MD

Lauren Smajdor, MD, earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida before attending UF’s College of Medicine. Now a fourth-year resident, Dr. Smajdor received the CA2 Division of Acute Pain Award at our 2020 graduation ceremony. She also…

Resident Spotlight: Lida Esfandiary, MD

Originally from Miami, Lida Esfandiary, MD, earned her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Florida in 2014 before attending UF’s College of Medicine. In her final year of medical school, she earned the prestigious J.S. Gravenstein Award…

First-Year Anesthesiology Resident Elected to Housestaff Committee

Congratulations to Alicia McLeod, MD, for being elected to the University of Florida College of Medicine Housestaff Council Executive Committee! The Housestaff Council provides input to the Graduate Medical Education office on many issues and the Executive Committee guides some of the financial decisions for money used for housestaff. Dr.

Critical Care Medicine Hosts Core Skills Boot Camp

Sixteen fellows from the Departments of Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Neurology, and Surgery had the opportunity to practice core critical care skills on simulation equipment during a multidisciplinary 3-day boot camp August 12-14. The 3 didactic days included lectures, interactive problem-based learning discussions, task training, team training, and simulation. Scheduling…

Welcome 2020 Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellows

Six anesthesiologists began their Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship with us this summer. Please help us welcome them to the team! Justin Alfonso, MD Residency Specialty: Anesthesiology Residency Institution: University of Florida Jacksonville Medical Education: American University of Antigua In his free time, Dr. Alfonso enjoys playing a variety of sports…

Welcome 2020 Fellows for Combined CT & CCM and Pediatric Anesthesiology

Welcome to our new Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine Fellow and Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellow! Combined Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine Ahmad Parniani, MD Residency Specialty: Anesthesiology Residency Institution: Penn State Medical Education: University of Louisville In his free time, Dr. Parniani likes to travel. He enjoys bowling and billiards and…

How to Become a CRNA or CAA in Florida

As members of the anesthesia care team, CRNAs and CAAs provide very important assistance to anesthesiologists in treating patients before and after surgery. They provide specialized knowledge, skillful expertise, and high-quality patient care techniques to ensure the well-being of every patient. How to Become a CRNA Certified registered nurse…

How to Become an Anesthesiologist in Florida

While the path to become an anesthesiologist is long — it will likely take at least 12 years to complete all of the necessary post-secondary education, and several years longer for those who want to specialize or obtain certifications that could enhance job prospects — the job outlook and salary…

Residents score well on national American Board of Anesthesiology In-Training Examination

Congratulations to our department residents, who performed strongly overall on the American Board of Anesthesiology’s February 2020 administration of the In-Training Examination. Overall, our senior residents scored at or very close to the 90th percentile nationally. In addition, three of our senior residents achieved the highest possible scaled score of…

Intern Education Month 2020

Many thanks to all who contributed to 2020’s Intern Education Month! Friday, February 7, 2020, was the last day of our Intern Education Month rotation and we’re happy to report that this year was another great success! Our interns took part in nineteen simulations, seventeen classroom sessions, eight shadow…

Critical Care Medicine Fellows Gain Experience in Inaugural Boot Camp

Ten first-year fellows from the Departments of Anesthesiology, Neurology, and Surgery had the opportunity to practice core critical care skills on simulation equipment and gain exposure to new faculty during a multidisciplinary three-day boot camp. The inaugural Critical Care Medicine Boot Camp included lectures, task trainers, and Advanced…

Dr. Kumar Hones Skills in Endoscopic Spine Surgery with FEO

Updated September 2019 Fellows and residents in the Department of Anesthesiology now have the rare opportunity to learn and train on a new minimally invasive endoscopic spinal procedure to treat conditions such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis thanks to the work of an interventional pain physician in the Department…

UF Residents Take Home Top Honors at GAARRC

The Department of Anesthesiology had a dominant showing at the 45th annual Gulf Atlantic Anesthesia Residents’ Research Conference (GAARRC) hosted by UF in early May, taking home first and second place overall as well as winning top honors in all research categories. Fourth-year resident Dalya Elhady, MD, won first place…

Dr. Giordano’s Faculty Enhancement Opportunity

By Adriana Barbat The Center for Medical Simulation at Harvard University is coming to UF. In August, the Center will offer a 4-day Advanced Instructor Course, which will give faculty from the College of Medicine and the College of Nursing the opportunity to refine their…

Residents Learn the Ropes in Basic Skills Boot Camp

By Adriana Barbat Imagine you’re a resident: Your intern year is over, and you’ve just started your first year of anesthesia training. You’re in the operating room helping to manage a case alongside more experienced residents and attendings. This particular case is unusual, and your involvement would…