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Welcoming our 2024 residents

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

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

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

UF College of Medicine Names Anesthesiologist as New Dean

Colleen G. Koch, MD, MS, MBA, has been named dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine, becoming the 10th dean and the first woman to hold the appointment in the college’s 64-year history. Dr. Koch, who currently serves as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology…

Three Papers by PeCAN Accepted by A&A

Members of the Perioperative Cognitive and Anesthesia Network (PeCAN) have three publications in press at Anesthesia & Analgesia. The papers were co-authored by some of our own: Patrick Tighe, MD, Catherine Price, PhD, Chris Giordano, MD, Cynthia Garvan, PhD, Kayser Enneking, MD, and Shawna Amini, MPH. All three were…

2019 AIG Airway Workshop Held

In late February, the Anesthesia Interest Group (AIG) led an Airway Management workshop for first- and second-year medical students. Approximately 30 students attended the workshop where they participated in seven stations led by faculty, fellows, and residents. The stations focused on different areas of Airway Management such as mask ventilation,…

2019 COM Research Poster Session

On Tuesday, February 19th, 2019, the College of Medicine held their annual Research Poster Session. Faculty, staff, and students from all areas of the College of Medicine presented their scientific discoveries. 532 posters were on display out of which our department submitted 51 abstracts. The video below shows a little…

2019 Intern Education Month

Mid February ends the 4-week rotation completely devoted to didactics known as Intern Education Month! Interns took part in 19 simulations, 17 classroom sessions, and 8 shadow sessions including 5 days of shadowing in the OR and other services such as the VA and the…

CSSALT Team Builds CVA Simulator for Use in Resource-limited Environments

Sprawling across tables and counters, mannequins stare at the ceiling, eyes wide and mouths agape. They make their homes among the countless wires and screens and tools scattered throughout the white, sterile rooms of the Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies…

Faculty Authored Book Chapter Published

Professor of Anesthesiology Bruce Spiess, MD, FAHA, authored a chapter for Hematologic Challenges in the Critically Ill. His chapter is titled ‘Intravenous oxygen therapeutics: a revolution in medicine yet to be realized?’.  Hematologic Challenges in the Critically Ill provides a comprehensive overview of hematologic issues that clinicians regularly encounter…

December 2018 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in December! Anesthesia & Analgesia Corda DM, Robards CB. Sugammadex and Oral Contraceptives: Is It Time for a Revision of the Anesthesia Informed Consent? Anesth Analg. 2018 Feb;126(2):730-731. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002677. Euliano TY, Michalopoulos K, Singh S, Gregg AR, Del Rio…

UF Health Selected as a Finalist for the Baldwin Award

Our institution was chosen as a finalist after an invitation-only application process. The ACGME and Arnold P. Gold Foundation DeWitt C. Baldwin, Jr. Award recognizes institutions with accredited residency/fellowship programs that are exemplary in fostering a respectful, supportive environment for medical education and the delivery…

Anesthesiology & Surgery Come Together at The ONE Party

Last weekend the departments of Anesthesiology and Surgery held their inaugural joint holiday gathering, The ONE Party. The two departments came together for food, fellowship, and fun. Guests were asked to bring donations and the departments raised a collective $1,745 for the Ronald McDonald House of North Central Florida. A…

Rene Przkora, MD, PhD, Appointed to ASRA Committee

Dr. Rene Przkora has been appointed a Member-at-Large on the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine’s 2020 Pain Medicine Meeting Planning Committee. As a member of this committee, Dr. Przkora will assist in planning the scientific content of the annual meeting, appointing faculty,…

New Leaders Appointed in Critical Care Medicine

Sean Kiley, MD, has been appointed Chief of the Division of Critical Care Medicine. In his new role, Dr. Kiley will assure that patients receive outstanding care and serve as a contact point for faculty and staff to discuss concerns. Peggy White, MD, has been appointed Program…

November 2018 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in November! Minerva Anestesiologica Algarra NN. Searching for the perfect brain-protecting agent. Minerva Anestesiol. 2018 Oct 30. doi: 10.23736/S0375-9393.18.13085-9. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. American Journal of Case Reports Arias F, Bursian AC, Sappenfield JW, Price CE. …

New Quality & Patient Safety Officer Joins the Department

Stephanie Gore,RN, joins us today, December 3, 2018, as our Quality and Patient Safety Officer. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Central Florida College of Nursing, where she is also in the home stretch in completing her masters of science…

Professors Awarded Exemplary Teacher Awards

This year nine of our Professors of Anesthesiology have been awarded the Exemplary Teachers Award! 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 National NP Week!

UF Department of Anesthesiology is joining healthcare providers nationwide in recognizing the unique skills of Nurse Practitioners during National NP Week. Our NP’s provide watchful, safe, and high-quality care to our patients every day. Please join us in thanking our NP’s for the compassionate care they…

October 2018 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in October! American Journal of Physiology, Cell Physiology Yang C, Hawkins KE, Dore S, Candelario-Jalil E. Neuroinflammatory mechanisms of blood-brain barrier damage in ischemic stroke. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2018 Oct 31. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00136.2018. [Epub ahead of print]…

Kayser Enneking, MD, Elected into AΩA

Dr. Kayser Enneking has been elected into Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA). Founded in 1902, AΩA is the national medical honor society. Election to Alpha Omega Alpha is an honor signifying a lasting commitment to scholarship, leadership, professionalism, and service. A lifelong honor, membership in the society…

Jayme Looper, MD, Elected Alternate Delegate to AMA

Second-year resident, Jayme Looper, MD, was elected alternate delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) resident and fellow section. Members of the AMA House of Delegates serve as an important communications, policy, and membership link between the AMA and grassroots physicians. The delegates and alternate delegates are a key…

Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship Matches All Six Positions

The Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship has matched all six positions during the first attempt in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) match process. There were a total of 261 applicants and 48 of those were interviewed. After registering for the Match and completing interviews, applicants submit to the NRMP a list…

September 2018 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in September! Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine Kim H, Choi S, Park E, Yoon E, Min Y, Lampotang S. Serum markers and development of delayed neuropsychological sequelae after acute carbon monoxide poisoning: anion gap, lactate,…

Brenda Fahy, MD, Fourth Female ABA President

Brenda Fahy, MD, remembers exactly where she was when she received one of the most important phone calls of her life. “I was standing on the beach,” she said. “I don’t remember exactly what was said after I was informed I’d be the next president…

Celebrating National PA Week!

UF Department of Anesthesiology is joining healthcare providers nationwide in recognizing the unique skills of Physician Assistants during National PA Week. Our PA’s provide watchful, safe, and high-quality care to our patients every day. Please join us in thanking our PA’s Rene Mathis, Kendra Murphy, Alexander Rivera-Rosado,…

Assistant Professor Joins the Department

Melissa Burger, MD, joined us on October 1, 2018, as an Assistant Professor in the divisions of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine. She recently completed her Cardiovascular Anesthesia and Critical Care Fellowship with our own Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Burger earned her medical degree from University…

Clinical Research Coordinator Awarded CCRC Credential

The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) has awarded Andrea Castro Cara, RN, BSN, the Certification of Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) for meeting eligibility requirements, demonstrating proficiency of specific knowledge and job‐related skills, and passing the standardized ACRP CRC Certification exam. The CCRC designation formally recognizes a Clinical Research Coordinator…

SAM Honors Members of the Department

At the last Society for Airway Management Meeting, Lauren Berkow, MD, FASA, was elected President and Felipe Urdaneta, MD, was elected President-Elect. On top of being elected President-Elect, Dr. Urdaneta was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his efforts to re-develop the SAM website and create…

Arvin Trippensee, DO, Granted FASA Designation

Dr. Arvin Trippensee has been designated Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (FASA). FASA is the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) highest acknowledgement and recognizes years of dedication to exceptional education, leadership, and commitment to the field of anesthesiology. Congratulations, Dr. Trippensee!…

Drs. Algarra, Smith, and Zhu Receive IHAF 2018 Education Awards

Assistant Professors of Anesthesiology, Nelson Algarra, MD, Cameron Smith, MD, PhD, and Jiepei Zhu, MD, PhD, received IHAF 2018 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…

Paper Selected as One of the Best Articles of 2017

The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) has selected “DisTeam: A decision support tool for surgical team selection” as one of the best articles published in 2017 in the Clinical Decision Support category of Medical Informatics. The paper was authored by Patrick Tighe, MD, MS, and Lei Zhang,…

August 2018 Publications

Congratulations to all who had articles published in August! Anesthesiology Loeb RG, Gravenstein N. Simultaneous Color Change at Opposite Ends of Carbon Dioxide Absorbent Canisters. Anesthesiology. 2018 Aug 30. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000002415. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. frontiers in Pediatrics Wang C, Gong J,…

Assistant Professor Joins the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia

Michael Franklin, DO, joined us on September 1, 2018, as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia. He comes to us from our own Department of Anesthesiology, where he completed his Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology fellowship. Dr. Franklin earned his medical degree from Philadelphia College of…

Pradip Kamat, PhD, Awarded Postdoctoral Fellowship

The American Heart Association (AHA) Research Committee has approved a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship for Dr. Pradip Kamat. Dr. Kamat is currently conducting research in the Dorè Lab. The project the AHA is funding is titled “Is carbon monoxide sufficient to reduce delayed cerebral ischemia…

Anesthesiology Residents Elected to FMA-RFS Governing Council

Congratulations to our second-year resident Jayme Looper, MD, and third-year resident Alberto Bursian, MD. Drs. Looper and Bursian were selected to sit on the Florida Medical Association Resident and Fellow Section Governing Council for the 2018-2019 academic year. Dr. Looper was elected to chair the council…

CSSALT Visits Cade Museum

Samsun Lampotang, PhD, and David Lizdas demonstrated an UltraSonography Trainer (UST) on Saturday, July 7, for visitors at the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention. The UST, designed and built at the Department of Anesthesiology Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies, allows users…

Article Featured on Cover of Journal

The article titled “Break Scrub to Take That Phone Call?” was published and featured on the cover of the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. This article was authored by Abigail Schirmer, BS, Courtney Swan, BS, Terrie Vasilopoulos, PhD, Nikolaus Gravenstein, MD, Chris Giordano, MD, from the…

Abstract Accepted to IACRN

Assistant Director of Clinical Research, Judith Wishin, BSN, RN, CCRC, along with her team of Research Coordinators, Andrea Castro Cara, RN, BSN; Amy Gunnett, RN, CCRC; Megan Koenig, BS; Trevor Pogue, MA, CCRC; Anna Woods, RN; and Desmond Zeng, MS, authored the case study titled “Real World Experience: Why…

New Resident Committees Announced

Four new resident committees have been created. These committees will play an active role in their respective areas to improve our residency experience. Congratulations to all those selected to chair and be members of these committees for the 2018-2019 academic year! To learn more about the committees click here.Education…

UF Health Shands Earns Environmental Excellence Award

UF Health Shands Hospital has earned a 2018 Greening the OR Recognition Award for in recognition of standard-setting innovation and environmental stewardship. The award was given by Practice Greenhealth, an organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care, at the CleanMed2018 meeting in San Diego.

Resident Case Report Published in A&A Practice

Third-year resident, Kevin Olsen, MD, authored the case report titled “Blood Patch in a Jehovah’s Witness: Case Report of a Novel Arterial-to-Epidural Closed-Circuit Technique” with former Anesthesiology fellow Ashley Screws, MD, and Assistant Professor Stephen Vose, MD. A&A Practice is a journal for clinicians worldwide that supports…

In Memoriam: Salvatore “Sam” Lo Palo, CRNA

Robert R. Kirby, MD, Professor Emeritus, and his wife, Margaret “Margie” Kirby have written in to let us here at UF Anesthesiology know of the passing of Salvatore “Sam” Lo Palo, CRNA. Margie wrote: When Robert and I met Sam, it was 1979 at…

Travis Parsons, PhD, Co-Investigator on New Grant

Congratulations to Dr. Travis Parsons, who is a co-investigator on a new grant entitled “Perfluorocarbon Oxygen Therapeutics as Additives to Preservation Solutions for Storage and Transport of Extended Criteria Donor Organs” funded by UF’s Department of Surgery. In collaboration with Drs. Narendra Batulla and Kenneth Andreoni…

April Resident of the Month: Carolyn Witman, MD!

We are proud to announce our Mohamed Osman Resident of the Month for the month of April is awarded to Carolyn Witman, MD. Dr. Witman did an amazing job as the senior resident on OB during a month that included several difficult cases. She is routinely willing…

In Memoriam: Michael Leppert, MD, 1955-2018

Michael Leppert was an anesthesiology resident at the University of Florida beginning in 1983. He passed away after a long struggle with cholangiocarcinoma. According to another former UF Anesthesiology resident, Tom Guyton (’91), “He [Michael] was well known for his rapier wit and compassionate care.” The…

2018 Rebecca Lovely Outstanding Service Award Nominees

Please join us in congratulating the nominees of the second annual Rebecca Lovely Outstanding Service Award! This award is meant to recognize exemplary performance of administrative staff identified by their faculty and peers as having consistently excelled in their position and demonstrated integrity and a…

Ana Oviedo, MD, Joins the Department

Ana Oviedo, MD, joined us on April 9, 2018, as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Acute and Perioperative Pain Medicine. Dr. Oviedo comes to us from the Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, where she was an Associate Anesthesiologist with U.S. Anesthesia Partners. She…

April 12th is UF Health Campus Earth Day

The first annual UF Health Campus Earth Day is Thursday, April 12th, in the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium from 7am – 5pm. Come celebrate UF Health’s commitment to sustainability. Displays will be set up throughout the Atrium from many of the UF Health departments, as…

UF Medical Students Selected Best Abstract Finalists

Second-year medical students Kristen Woodward, Bailey Frei, and Mitchell Zhang have been selected as Kosaka Best of Meeting Abstract Award Finalists for the International Anesthesia Research Society’s (IARS) 2018 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium. The students will present their joint first author research, “Considerations for…

UF Anesthesiologists Discuss Research with Anesthesiology News

Jeffrey White, MD, associate professor of anesthesiology and associate medical director of GI Endoscopy, and Samsun Lampotang, PhD, professor of anesthesiology, discussed their study on the different responses to propofol dosing for Asian, black and white patients during gastrointestinal endoscopy in an interview with Anesthesiology News. Anesthesiology News, now in…

Our Celebration of Research Brings Out the Best & Brightest

This year’s Department of Anesthesiology Celebration of Research provided an opportunity for those affiliated with anesthesiology to share exciting research that they have conducted over the last year, their ideas for future research projects, and challenging cases that they have experienced. The Key Note Speaker, Scott…

Teresa Ojode, MD, Nominated February’s Resident of the Month

The Mohamed Osman Resident of the Month for February has been awarded to Teresa Ojode, MD. Dr. Ojode went above and beyond on her OB rotation to take care of patients, well above her scope of duty. She continued to have a positive attitude and was a…

2018-2019 Chief Residents Elected

Congratulations to our three new chief residents for the 2018-2019 term, commencing April 1st, 2018. Dalya Elhady, MD, Kevin Olsen, MD, and Sindhu Nimma, MD, were nominated by their anesthesia resident peers and selected by faculty. A big thank you to our outgoing chiefs, Danielle Cobb, MD, Mark Hotchkiss, DO,…

Alexander Multak, MD, Joins the Department

Dr. Alexander Multak joined us on March 12, 2018, as an Assistant Professor. He comes to us from Geisinger Community Medical Center where he worked in both general and cardiac anesthesiology. He received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his…

AIG Event Encourages Med Students to Pursue Anesthesia

Working with the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Anesthesia Interest Group (AIG), Chris Giordano, MD, hosted a simulation lab for medical students. Approximately 25 students attended the event where they interacted with multiple simulation stations. Anesthesia professors Chris Giordano, MD; Ferenc Rabai, MD; Sonia…

Residents Appointed to ASRA Committee

Second-year residents Alberto Bursian, MD, and Timothy Feldheim, MD, have been appointed to the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) Resident Section Committee. The ASRA is one of the largest subspecialty medical societies in anesthesiology with more than 4,000 members in 60…

Sean Kiley, MD, Elected into Alpha Omega Alpha

Dr. Sean Kiley has been elected into Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), the only allopathic medical honor society in the United States. The AOA is dedicated to the belief that in the profession of medicine we will improve care for all by recognizing high educational achievement; …

Alberto Bursian, MD, Selected to Participate in FMA Legislative Day

Second-year resident Alberto Bursian, MD, represented the University of Florida on FMA Legislative Day. Dr. Bursian was the only anesthesiology resident in the group of 15 that went to the capitol in Tallahassee this month. The group met with several members of the House of…

Research Grant Funding Approved by NIH

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), an Institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approved funding for the grant titled “Neuro-Imaging and biofluid-based Biomarker Assessments as translational pathophysiological outcome measures in TBI”. Department of Anesthesiology research assistant professor, Jiepei Zhu, PhD, is co-investigator…

Golf Tournament Raises $24,000

The 8th Annual UF Health Perioperative Golf Classic was held on Saturday, February the 10th, at Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club. Over 100 golfers participated, including more than forty of our anesthesiology residents and faculty. The tournament raised in excess of $24,000 for the Ronald McDonald…

Colleagues Present at NANS 2018

Congratulations to our colleagues for their pain medicine presentation at the 21st annual North American Neuromodulation Society Meeting (NANS 2018). The presentation was titled Retrospective analysis among Veterans’ Affairs patients evaluated for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy and presented by Timothy W Vollmer, DO, Alberto Bursian, MD, Jackie…

Chris Giordano, MD, Inducted into Society of Teaching Scholars

The Mission of the Society of Teaching Scholars (STS) at the University of Florida College of Medicine is to honor and foster teaching excellence and educational scholarship. Each year the STS invites about three new members to join the Society and help support this mission. Teaching…

Lauren Berkow, MD, Appointed to UF Committee

Dr. Lauren Berkow has been appointed to serve on the University of Florida Sustainability Committee. The Sustainability Committee promotes sustainability within the University and in the University’s relations with the larger community and seeks to enhance the University’s standing as a global leader in sustainability.

Happy CRNA Week!

Celebrate your CRNAs January 21-27, 2018! The UF Department of Anesthesiology is joining healthcare providers nationwide in recognizing the unique skills of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) during National CRNA Week. According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), more than 52,000+ CRNAs and…

Exceptional Residents November – January

The following residents are being recognized for going above and beyond in the previous couple of months. November Resident of the Month Mohamed Osman, MD; Fourth-year Resident This is Dr. Osman’s 2nd award as a CA3 and much deserving. He consistently and deservedly…

Penny Reynolds, PhD, Appointed to IACUC

Dr. Penny Reynolds has been appointed to serve on the University of Florida’s Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This is an important position that requires judgement and knowledge in assuring that research involving animals is conducted with the highest of ethical standards and conforms to…

NIH Awards Grant to Doré Lab

The National Institutes of Health is funding a grant in support of the project titled “Carbon monoxide (CO) therapeutic role and potential mechanism in traumatic brain injury (TBI)”. Sylvain Doré, PhD, is the principal investigator on the project. Dr. Doré’s lab focuses on discovering new mechanisms…

Residents Score in the Top 10%

Third-year residents Drs. Jason Howard and Christopher Maxwell scored in the top 10% on the American Board of Anesthesiologists (ABA) BASIC exam in 2017. To be successful in the specialty of anesthesiology, physicians must have a solid foundation in basic science and a commitment to lifelong learning. Our residents’ performance…

Funding Awarded for Translational Pilot Project

Funding for the Translational Pilot Project (TPP), “Pragmatic Clinical Trial of Race‐Specific Response to Propofol Infusion Titrated to Effect for Procedural Sedation During Endoscopy”, has been approved by the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Samsun Lampotang, PhD, is the principal investigator on the project and Nikolaus Gravenstein, MD, and…

UF Health Surgeon & Anesthesiologists Perform Laparoscopic Surgery on Awake Patient

Anesthesiologists Kayser Enneking, MD, and Stephen Vose, MD, worked with Nash Moawad, MD, a UF Health minimally-invasive gynecologic surgeon, to perform a full laparoscopic hysterectomy under regional epidural. This procedure is normally performed through an abdominal incision with the patient under general anesthesia. The patient, Martina Sumner,…

Team Returns from Successful Ecuador Mission Trip

On Friday, November 10th, 2017, a team of UF anesthesiologists left Florida and traveled to Portoviejo, Ecuador. Their mission was to provide anesthesia for orthopedic surgeries for a week. Sean Kiley, MD, and John Downs, MD, accompanied four residents – Mark Hotchkiss, DO,…

Penny Reynolds, PhD, Serves on International Advisory Panel

Dr. Penny Reynolds was invited to participate on an international expert working panel, sponsored by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), London UK, for the revision of the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) guidelines.

Alumni Reception at the ASA Annual Meeting

Please join Timothy Morey, MD, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, for a cocktail reception for alumni, colleagues and friends of the University of Florida College of Medicine at the American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting. The reception will take place on Sunday, October 22,…

Anatoly Martynyuk, PhD, Speaks in the Physiological Sciences Seminar Series

Join Anatoly Martynyuk, PhD, for his talk entitled “Sex-dependant Reduction in Resilience to Adverse Life Events After Anesthesia Early in Life” on Tuesday, October 17th, 2017. The lecture is part of the 2017 Fall Physiological Sciences Seminar Series and will be held in the Health Professions/Nursing/Pharmacy Complex in room #G-301A…

Sylvain Doré, PhD, Awarded $35,000 in Research Grants

Dr. Doré has been awarded $35,000 in research grants by the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. The grants will help fund the research for Dr. Doré’s paper, Is CO-releasing Molecule a Potent Tool for Attenuating Vasospasm and Providing Neuroprotection after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage?  The Brain Aneurysm…

Dr. Sidi to Serve on UF’s Academic Assessment Committee

Avner Sidi, MD, has been selected to serve on the University of Florida’s Academic Assessment Committee. The Academic Assessment Committee reviews Academic Learning Compacts (ALC) and Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) in order to assess their feasibility and consistency with University-wide evaluation. The committee will provide…

Dr. Mark Wesley Joins the Department

Mark Wesley, MD, joined the Department of Anesthesiology in August of 2017 as an Associate Professor. Before this appointment, he was an Instructor of Anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School and an Associate in Cardiac Anesthesia at the Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Wesley received…

Drs. Greg Janelle & Tim Martin Granted FASA Designation

Drs. Janelle and Martin have been designated Fellows of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (FASA). FASA is the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) highest acknowledgement and recognizes years of dedication to exceptional education, leadership, and commitment to the field of anesthesiology. Dr. Janelle…

Rene Przkora, MD, PhD, Elected to ASA Committee

Dr. Rene Przkora has been elected to serve on the American Society of Anesthesiologists Committee on Pain Medicine. The ASA Committee on Pain Medicine is charged with studying pain mechanisms and management as well as reviewing and disseminating developments in the field of pain medicine​.

Rene Przkora, MD, PhD, Re-appointed to ASA Subcommittee

Dr. Rene Przkora has been re-appointed to serve on the American Society of Anesthesiologists Abstract Review Subcommittee on Chronic and Cancer Pain. As a member of this subcommittee, Dr. Przkora will be responsible for the grading of scientific abstracts which will be submitted to the Annual ASA Meeting.

Lauren Berkow, MD, to Serve on FMA Committee

Dr. Lauren Berkow will be serving on the Florida Medical Association Committee on Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Accreditation. This Committee serves as a component of the Council on Medical Education, Science & Public Health by performing the responsibilities necessary to accredit CME providers in Florida and to…

Dr. Lauren Berkow Judges at the FMA Poster Symposium

The Florida Medical Association (FMA) held their 2017 Annual Meeting and Conference over the weekend in Orlando, Florida. Our own Lauren Berkow, MD, was there to help judge the many posters submitted for the David A. Paulus, M.D. Poster Symposium on Saturday. Students from the…

Pavel Balduyeu, MD, Appointed to ASA Subcommittee

Fourth-year resident, Dr. Pavel Balduyeu has been appointed to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Abstract Review Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Practice Management. As a member of this subcommittee, Dr. Balduyeu will be responsible for the grading of scientific paper abstracts submitted for the 2017…

Amanda Frantz, MD, Joins Our Critical Care Faculty

Dr. Amanda Frantz joined the department on August 7, 2017, as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Frantz received her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. She completed an internship and residency in anesthesiology at Virginia Commonwealth University as…

Avner Sidi, MD, Appointed to ASA Subcommittee

Dr. Avner Sidi has been appointed to serve on the 2018 American Society of Anesthesiologists Abstract Review Subcommittee on Equipment, Monitoring and Engineering Technology. As a member of this subcommittee, Dr. Sidi will be responsible for the grading of scientific paper abstracts which are submitted for the 2017 Annual…

Matthew Andoniadis, MD, Joins the Department

Dr. Matthew Andoniadis joined us on August 1, 2017, as an Assistant Professor for the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesia. He came to us from Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights, Illinois, where he worked in private practice as an anesthesiologist for over…

Laurie Davies, MD, Appointed to Four ASA Committees

Dr. Laurie Davies has received four American Society of Anesthesiology committee appointments for the 2018 governance year. Dr. Davies will be serving on the ASA committees on Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia; Scientific and Educational Exhibits; and Educational Track Subcommittee on Professional Issues. She…

Penny Reynolds, PhD, Presents at Evidence Live 2017, University of Oxford

Dr. Penny Reynolds presented “Why academic clinical trials fail: Trial cemetery demographics and a case study” at the 2017 Evidence Live conference at the University of Oxford. A survey of trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov suggested that academic trial failures had little to do with the efficacy of the intervention. Instead, more than…

Lauren Berkow, MD, Appointed to ASA Committees

Dr. Lauren Berkow has been appointed to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Committee on Neuroanesthesia and the ASA Committee on Equipment and Facilities. Through their committees, the American Society of Anesthesiologists endeavor to further their mission of enhancing anesthesia education world wide; supporting clinical anesthesia needs…

Welcome 2017 Fellows

A big welcome to all of this year’s new anesthesiology fellows! Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellows Christopher Babl, MD Dr. Babl completed medical school at the University of Nebraska and came to our residency program at the University of Florida. In addition to publishing in the International Journal of…

Welcome 2017 Residents

It’s that time of year again! Our halls have filled up with the new faces of incoming interns and residents. As we strive to fulfill one of our important missions, that of education, we seek out the best and the brightest to come to the…

Faculty & Residents Recognized for Exemplary Service

As the academic year came to a close, faculty and residents were acknowledged for their outstanding service at the Department of Anesthesiology’s graduation in June, 2017. In addition to the annual awards for faculty and senior residents, division awards were handed out, for which all…

Cameron Smith, MD, PhD, Joins Our Faculty

Dr. Cameron Smith joined the department in July, 2017, as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Smith hails from Ottawa, Ontario in Canada. He joined us after completing his Fellowship in Acute and Peri-operative Pain Medicine at the University of Florida. Prior to this, he did his Anesthesiology residency training and…

Dr. Patrick Tighe Elected a Member of the AUA

Patrick Tighe, MD, MS, has been elected as a member of the Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA). As a member, Dr. Tighe is among a select group of individuals recognized by their peers to have made distinguished contributions to anesthesiology teaching…

Ferenc Rabai, MD, Joins the Department

Dr. Ferenc Rabai joined us in June 2017, as an Assistant Professor. He completed his anesthesiology residency in 2016 and his fellowship in neuroanesthesiology in 2017 at the University of Florida. His research interests include prediction of post-traumatic cerebral infarction in traumatic brain…

2017 Faculty Promotions

Dr. Avner Sidi has been promoted to Professor and Drs. Jeff White and Barys Ihnatsenka have been promoted to Associate Professor. They have worked very hard over many years to be successfully promoted to these ranks. Their new titles attest to their commitment to…

Pain Medicine Fellowship Receives Grant

It is our pleasure to announce that Rene Przkora, PhD and the 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…

Congrats Class of 2017!

Congratulations to our graduating residents and fellows! Thank you for all of your hard work over the years and good luck in your future endeavors! Keep checking our Facebook page for more pictures from graduation.

Basic Skills Boot Camp for New Residents

Our incoming residents attended Basic Skills Boot Camp over the summer. Two sessions were held for three days each in our simulation lab. New Residents learned basic skills to prepare them for their residency such as anesthetic measures and checks, intubation and extubation, and TEE…

Daryl L. Reust, MD, Joins the Department

Dr. Daryl Reust joined us on June 19, 2017, as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology. Dr. Reust comes to us from the University of Oklahoma, where he was an Assistant Professor and Associate Section Chief of Cardiovascular Anesthesia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from…

Betty Grundy, MD, Passes Away

Dr. Betty Lou Bottoms Grundy, age 77 of Gainesville, passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2017 under the care of hospice. Dr. Grundy graduated from the University of Florida near the top of her class in 1963. She was one of the first women graduates…

Albert R. Robinson, III, MD, Elected to Faculty Council

Dr. Albert Robinson has been elected Vice President of the College of Medicine Faculty Council. Dr. Robinson is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and the Chief of the Division of Vascular Anesthesia. He joined the University of Florida College of Medicine faculty in 2006 as a practicing…

Joshua Sappenfield, MD, Presents at ASA Conference

Dr. Joshua Sappenfield presented “Implementation Case Studies: Successful PSH Pilots” as part of a panel at the 2017 American Society of Anesthesiology’s 2017 Spring Perioperative Surgical Home Learning Collaborative. The Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) is a patient-centered, physician-led system of coordinated care that…

Our Pain Medicine Fellowship Receives New Grant

We are pleased to announce that Rene Przkora, PhD and the Pain Medicine Fellowship Program have been awarded a Fellowship Grant from the St. Jude Medical Foundation. The St. Jude Medical Foundation is an independent organization funded by St. Jude Medical that provides funding to charitable…

Brenda Fahy, MD, MCCM Appointed to ACGME Appeals Panel

Dr. Brenda Fahy will serve a six-year appointment as a member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) appeals panel for Anesthesiology. ACGME is an independent, not-for-profit, physician-led organization that sets and monitors the professional educational standards essential in preparing…

Cynthia Garvan, PhD, to Receive Faculty Enhancement Opportunity

Dr. Cynthia Garvan will receive a Faculty Enhancement Opportunity award for the Fall of 2017. This FEO will provide Dr. Garvan the time, resources, and experiences which will allow her to acquire expertise in brain image analysis. Advances in imaging techniques such as CT, PET, MRI, fMRI, DTI, and…

2017 Celebration of Research a Huge Success

The annual 2017 Department of Anesthesiology Celebration of Research was a huge success, due in large part to outstanding participation and attendance. Many thanks to the 66 entries for sharing exciting and innovative research. Congratulations to the winners: Manish Shah, First Place for Best Poster Abigail Schirmer, Second Place…

Dr. Rene Przkora Selected to Serve on ASIPP Committee

Rene Przkora, MD, PhD has been selected to serve on the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) Committee on Membership, Public Relations, Social Media and Fundraising. ASIPP is a not-for-profit organization representing interventional pain physicians across the country. The…

Journal Club on Post-Transfusion Pulmonary Complications

The Department of Anesthesiology was honored to have Daryl J. Kor, MD, the T.W. Anderson/H.M. Perkins Visiting Professor from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, present a Journal Club on March 27th. Dr. Kor presented on the topic of Post-Transfusion Pulmonary Complications. Thanks to Meghan Brennan, MD, Ferenc Rabai MD, Gevalin Srisooksai,…

Welcome Christina Hendricks!

Christina joined us on March 27, 2017, as a Website Administrator. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television Production from Palm Beach Atlantic University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Mass Communication at the University of Florida, which she will complete this…

Kiki Nin, MD, Appointed Medical Director of FSC

Kiki Nin, MD, has been appointed medical director of the Florida Surgical Center (FSC). FSC is an ambulatory center serving the outpatient surgical needs of patients cared for at UF Health. Dr. Nin will be primarily located at FSC and will supervise activities at that site.

Honoring the memory of Dr. David Paulus

On December 12, 2012, we lost our friend and colleague David A. Paulus, MD. Dr. Paulus worked for 35 years here at UF as an Anesthesiologist. Here is a video created to commemorate his life here at the University of Florida’s Department of Anesthesiology.  His obituary is below.

Please Welcome Nettie Van Wyen to the Department of Anesthesiology!

Nettie Van Wyen joined the Department of Anesthesiology on November 14, 2016, as an Administrative Assistant with the faculty support team. She has been working at UF for 10 years, initially as Assistant to the Chair in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and most recently as an Administrative…

Ajay Antony, MD, Performs First DRG Stimulation

Dr. Ajay Antony performed the very first Dorsal Root Ganglion or DRG stimulation procedure at UF Health on October 31, 2016. In 2016, He and the UF Health Pain Medicine faculty were a few of the less than 400 physicians in the country who had been trained in DRG stimulation.

Donald Caton, MD, Awarded Distinguished Service Award

Dr. Caton, a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Florida, was awarded the first ever Distinguished Service Award  from the Wood Library Museum of Anesthesiology! With this award, the trustees of the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology are showing recognition of Dr. Caton’s outstanding and…

2016 Emergency Medicine Airway Day

On September 15th, 2016, Drs. Cometa and Sappenfeld held an Airway Skills Lab at the Harrell Medical Education Building. This was done in conjunction with Emergency Medicine’s Airway Day. Before the skills lab, Dr. Cometa and Dr. Sappenfeld  gave lectures. Dr. Cometa talked about Fiberoptic Intubation – Equipment and Techniques, and…

Doré Lab Raises Money for Stroke Research

Dr. Doré and the Stroke Research Lab participated in the annual Heart Walk on September 24, 2016, for Alachua County. The team raised an amazing $1,325 for stroke research. Teams consisting of UF Health employees accounted for almost $40,000 in donations! Overall the event raised nearly $200,000.

Linda Le-Wendling, MD, Wins Best of Category

Dr. Linda Le-Wendling has won Best of Category for Regional Anesthesia at the IARS 2016 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium which was held on May 21,2016. Dr. Le-Wendling was selected for her abstract Acute Needle Entry Point and Angulation is Crucial in Using Predetermined Depth to Locate the Thoraic Paravertebral…

UF Health Pain Management- Ayers opened September 1, 2016

The UF Health Pain Medicine Division of the Department of Anesthesiology has a fantastic new facility to care for patients suffering from pain. UF Health Pain Management- Ayers opened September 1, 2016. This facility is dedicated exclusively to the treatment of painful conditions. The skilled nurses, technicians and support staff…

Stefanie Vallancourt, DO, Selected Scholars’ Award Finalist

Dr. Vallancourt was identified as a Scholars’ Award finalist for the IARS 2016 Annual Meeting and International Science Symposium for her abstract Massive Cardiac Thrombosis and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy in a Patient with Retained Dead Fetus Syndrome. The Board of Trustees and the 2016 Annual Meting Program Committee selected her as a…

Dr. Martynyuk Takes 3rd Place

Anatoly Martynyuk, PhD, won 3rd Prize in Neuroscience Posters at the 16th Annual World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists 2016 Conference in Hong Kong for his poster “Long-term developmental synaptic effects of neonatal anesthesia with propofol or etomidate in rats: role of corticosterone”.

Our Doctors Help Separate Conjoined Twins

Our anesthesiologists, Drs. Pitkin, Irwin, Greene, Moore and Davies, help separate conjoined twins in a groundbreaking procedure. GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Conjoined twin girls who were connected at the heart and other organs have been successfully separated in an extremely rare surgery performed by physicians at University Florida Health…

Please Join Us in Welcoming Lauren Berkow, MD

Dr. Berkow joins us on September 1 as an Associate Professor for the Division of Neuroanesthesia and Director of Anesthesia Supplies and Equipment. She comes to us from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, where she served as an Associate Chief for…

Welcome Mary Jane Michael!

Mary Jane Michael, RN, BSN, MS, CCRC, joins us as a Manager of Clinical Research. She comes to us from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, where she worked as a research program manager for the Department of Anesthesiology. Ms. Michael earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing as…

Welcome Dr. Penny Reynolds!

Please join us in welcoming Penny S. Reynolds, PhD, to the Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Reynolds joins us as an Assistant Professor and comes to us from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, where she worked as an Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology and as a project leader on…

A Warm Welcome for our New Interns and their Families!

On July 23rd 2016, Drs. Enneking and Scarborough invited the entire Department to their beautiful lake house to welcome the incoming interns and their families into their new Anesthesiology Family. There was a big turnout with more children under the age of 5 than there were adults. The 22 foot…

Please join us in welcoming Rensheng (Victor) Zhang, MD, PhD!

Dr. Zhang joins us as an Associate Professor and comes to us from the Anesthesia Consultants of CA Med Group in San Diego, California, where he was a staff physician and partner. He is a Diplomate for the American Board of Anesthesiology and the National Board of Medical Examiners. Dr.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Taran Sangari!

Dr. Sangari joined us on May 16, 2016, as an Associate Professor and Associate Chief of Pediatric Anesthesia, and he comes to us from Valley Children’s Place in Madera, California, where he was a Staff Anesthesiologist in the Department of Pediatric Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. He earned his Bachelor of…

Welcome Dr. Derek Covington!

Dr. Covington joined us on July 1, 2016, as an Assistant Professor for the Division of Multi-specialty Anesthesiology, and comes to us from the University of California Irvine School of Medicine, where he was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology and a Partner for SD Botox. He completed his Bachelor…

Decision-Making, Motivation, and Leadership Course a Success!

Each year a group of residents spend hours of their own time reading literature on developing leadership and professionalism skills during a seminar course called Decision-Making, Motivation, and Leadership.  Every other month they get together and discuss practical examples and key points discussed in the books as…

2016 Faculty Promotions

Please join us in congratulating our faculty who were promoted for their devoted work to educating the next generation of physicians, discovering new knowledge, and continuing our outstanding care for patients at UF Health. Drs. Yong Peng, Steve Robicsek and Felipe Urdaneta were promoted to Professor and Drs. Chris Giordano and Patrick…

Dr. Martin Appointed Senior Examiner for ABA

Timothy Martin, MD, has been appointed a Senior Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Martin has been recognized by the board in this appointment for maintaining and improving the Quality of the Part 2 Examination process and has been appointed for a four year term beginning in 2017. They…

Dr. Enneking Donates to Gravenstein Scholars Endowment

Dr. Shirley Graves, Dr. Mark Scarborough, Dr. Kayser Enneking and Dr. Jerome Modell Drs. Graves and Modell presented Kayser Enneking, MD with an award to honor her for the exceptionally generous financial contributions she has made to the Gravenstein Scholars Endowment.  Please join us in thanking and congratulating Dr.

Please join us in welcoming Edward McGough, MD, FCCP!

Dr. McGough joined us on June 6, 2016, as an Associate Professor in the Divisions of Cardiovascular Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, and comes to us from Memorial Medical Center and Plaza Surgery Center in Jacksonville, where he was a Staff Anesthesiologist. He is a Diplomate for the American Board…