Shakthi Venkatachalam, MBBS

My name is Shakthi Venkatachalam, MBBS, and I joined the UF Department of Anesthesiology as an assistant professor in the Division of Obstetric Anesthesia in 2025. I became an anesthesiologist because I see anesthesia as the most humane of all of humanity’s accomplishments. My patients’ comfort and safety are my top priorities. I know surgery and anesthesia can feel overwhelming, so I strive to provide expert care with reassurance and compassion every step of the way.

I earned my medical degree from the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Coimbatore, India, where I also did my internship. I completed my anesthesiology residency at JSS Medical College and Hospital in Mysore, India. Then, I went to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, United Kingdom, for a clinical fellowship. I finished a simulation fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. At Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, I completed an obstetric anesthesiology fellowship and a perioperative medicine and ambulatory anesthesia fellowship. Prior to joining the department, I also served as a simulation lead at this hospital.

I’m passionate about medical simulation education: training residents and fellows in a controlled environment to build their skills and confidence for real-world scenarios. My research interests focus on obstetric anesthesia, and I am currently studying the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia and bradycardia in infants of women receiving β blockers.

In my spare time, I love to cook traditional South Indian dishes and read both fiction and non-fiction books. I also like to take long walks with my Goldendoodle, Coco.