Med School/Year Graduated: University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, 2017
Years in Practice: 4
What is it about anesthesiology that spoke to you when you were deciding on residencies?
The anesthesiologists I met in medical school were the happiest doctors in the hospital. While this sparked my initial interest in the specialty, I quickly realized that I loved the physiology, pharmacology, procedures and the team environment of the [operating room], and knew anesthesiology was the right fit.
Patients usually don’t meet their anesthesiologists until the day of surgery. Is there ever occasion to extend the patient-doctor relationship beyond that?
Yes, I’m actually an anesthesiologist and an intensivist, so I often take care of patients before or after their surgery if they require ICU admission. I enjoy developing these longitudinal relationships with patients and find that this continuity of care brings more meaning to my job.
Are there any misconceptions about anesthesiologists you encounter?
A common misconception is that anesthesiologists just put patients to sleep then sit and play sudoku all day. In reality, we manage cardiac and pulmonary physiology, provide resuscitation and critical care, manage pain and play a central role in patient safety.
You’re a member of the International Liver Transplant Society. Are there special considerations from an anesthesiology standpoint for liver transplant surgeries?
Absolutely. End-stage liver disease affects nearly every organ system, making these patients uniquely challenging in the operating room. Liver transplant anesthesia requires management of labile hemodynamics, large-volume resuscitation, coagulopathy correction, and communication and collaboration with the surgical team.
Are there other procedures besides liver transplant that require specialized anesthetic experience or training?
Yes. I completed fellowship training in critical care medicine, but there are several other subspecialty training options after anesthesiology residency such as cardiothoracic, pediatric, pain medicine, obstetrics and neuroanesthesiology.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Well, I’m currently nine months pregnant, so my favorite activity is laying on the couch and eating snacks with my rescue pitbulls, Carol and Gary. But I also enjoy traveling, date nights, reformer Pilates, weightlifting, drinking wine and spending time with the people I love.
What shows are you streaming these days?
Just finished watching Stranger Things season 5.
“If I wasn’t a doctor, I’d be…”
A restaurant critic, because I love eating good food.
