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UF Health University of Florida
Department of Anesthesiology College of Medicine
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Clinical Overview

Liver & Transplant Anesthesiology

The Division of Liver & Transplant Anesthesiology in the UF Department of Anesthesiology provides safe, high-quality care for all transplantation patients which includes preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages of care. The division cares for patients with the highest levels of acuity, affording an excellent educational opportunity for our outstanding anesthesiology residents.

UF Health’s liver transplant program is ranked among the highest in the nation by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). According to the SRTR, UF Health Shands is ranked No. 1 for liver transplants nationally, No. 5 for kidney transplants in the Southeast, and among the very best lung transplant programs in the country — ranked second in survival on the waiting list and fourth in 1-year patient survival. Based on the 2025 SRTR report, our patient survival rate for liver transplants of 99.7% is significantly higher than the national average of 92.2%. Our short-term and long-term survival outcomes reflect our commitment to seeing patients thrive beyond their initial transplant.

Resident Education

Liver & Transplant is a senior resident elective lasting one month. During this rotation, residents gain experience with liver, heart, and lung transplantation. They work with our liver transplant faculty on liver transplants and our cardiothoracic faculty for lung and heart transplants.

Faculty

Chris R Giordano

Chris R Giordano MD, FASA

Professor Of Anesthesiology; Division Chief, Liver Transplantation; Director, Anesthesiology/Critical Care Clerkship
Asad Bashir

Asad Bashir MD, FAAP

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Joseph AbuRahma

Joseph AbuRahma MD

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Meghan M Brennan

Meghan M Brennan MD, MS

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology; Clinical Director of Research, Division of Critical Care Medicine
Nikolaus Gravenstein

Nikolaus Gravenstein MD

Jerome H. Modell, MD, Distinguished Professor of Anesthesiology; Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery and Periodontology
John A Heinbockel

John A Heinbockel MD, MSEE

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Medical Director for Ocala Neighborhood Hospital
Brandon M Lopez

Brandon M Lopez MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Medical Director for CRNA/CAA Services
Josh W Sappenfield

Josh W Sappenfield MD

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology; Clinical Director of Research, Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology
Our Anesthesiology Clinical Subspecialties