Robert A Tokhunts, PhD, MD

My name is Robert Tokhunts, PhD, MD, and I joined the UF Department of Anesthesiology in 2024 as an assistant professor in the Division of Critical Care Medicine. I was born in Armenia and left for the United States at the age of 16, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. I landed in New York City alone and without any ability to speak English.

After my arrival, I worked as a street cook for NYC festivals while I attended college. I began my college studies with several months of remedial education, learning basic math and English. I went on to graduate summa cum laude from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Science in forensic toxicology. During this time, I also published several organic chemistry papers, some as a lead author, and briefly considered a career in chemistry. However, after working as a forensic toxicologist for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, I decided to obtain a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from Dartmouth Medical School.

After my doctorate, I spent a few years as a visiting scientist at the Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. I then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience under the mentorship of Solomon Snyder at the Johns Hopkins University Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience.

After my fellowship, I obtained a medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School and completed an anesthesiology residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. In retrospect, anesthesiology is where I was heading all along as the constant interplay of physiology and pharmacology was most appealing to me. While an anesthesiology resident, I started to appreciate that my understanding of the nuances of critical care made me a better anesthesiologist. As a result, I also completed a fellowship in critical care medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Outside of medicine, my interests lie in understanding biology in all its forms. I have enjoyed the company of an African Grey parrot for over a decade now. I also enjoy saltwater and freshwater fishkeeping and chickens! I have three dogs, one of which I picked up from a street in Miami. I also enjoy other hobbies such as carpentry, house renovations, gardening, and electrical work.

Finally, what I learned from life thus far is humility, empathy, and understanding. My overall goal is to support everyone I work with in any way I can. I firmly believe that when the entire healthcare team feels valued, ultimately, the patients who rely on us at their most vulnerable times have the best outcomes.

• Anesthesiology

  American Board of Anesthesiology