In typical academic years, anesthesiology resident and fellow graduates would gather the first Saturday in June with their families and academic mentors to celebrate the completion of their respective programs. However, we all know that 2020 has not been a typical year.
In an effort to protect the graduates, their colleagues and families from COVID-19, the in-person graduation ceremony was cancelled. However, our team of residency and fellowship program directors and administrators organized unique, socially-distant ways to honor each trainee. The following videos replace the ceremony, and honors each graduate.
Celebrate our graduating fellows with this video.
Andrea Dutoit, MD, residency program director, hand-delivered framed diplomas. Dr. Dutoit stated it was important to her that each resident received their diploma in a ceremonious manner with a photo opportunity, albeit without the handshake. Residents also received a monogramed blanket and framed words of praise from their colleagues.
Each fellowship director planned individual celebrations, including a drive-by parade and diploma delivery for the critical care fellows, and a gurney parade in the hallways of Children’s Hospital & Medical Center for the pediatric fellow.
The department provided all graduating residents, fellows and their families dinner from Pitch Pizzeria on Saturday, June 6, in celebration.
The list below identifies award recipients that would typically be honored during graduation, and the future plans of each resident and fellow.
Awards:
Brad Paulson Award (Outstanding Medical Student in Anesthesiology)
Megan Rolfzen
CBY Teacher of the Year Award
Weston Ross, DO, Department of Emergency Medicine
CA1-CA3 Teacher of the Year Award
Pending Surprise Announcement
Certificates of Academic Excellence (75th percentile or greater on ABA training exam)
Sagar Bansal, MBBS
Gregory Campbell, MD
Jae Cauble, DO
Clayton Damme, MD
Redgy Fuller, DO
Codi Guck, DO
Ryan Nimick, MD
John Riley, MD
Blaine Schlawin, DO
Zack Smith, MD
Christian Sun, MD
Michael Warden, MD
Levi Zehr, MD
Residents’ Future Plans:
Brandon Alex, MD – Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship, UNMC
Marcus Arthur, MD – Missoula Anesthesiology, PC, Missoula, Mont.
Nicholas Beare, MD – Medical Anesthesia, Ltd, Minneapolis, MN
Gregory Campbell, MD – Rocky Mountain State Anesthesia Providers, Fort Collins, Colo.
Amber Guck, DO – Pain Medicine Fellowship, UNMC
Mackenzie Laurila, DO – Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship, UNMC
Carter Mohnssen, MD (Chief Resident) – Private Practice, UC Health Medical Group/Memorial Health System, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Ryan Nimick, MD – Private Practice at Abbott Northwestern, Minneapolis, MN
Andy Peck, MD – North Kansas City Hospital, Kansas City, MO
Sean Rajnic, MD (Chief Resident) – Critical Care Fellowship, UNMC
Nathan Schneider, MD – St Francis Hospital System, Tulsa, Okla.
Zack Smith, MD – Pain Medicine Fellowship, UNMC
Trevor Wilke, MD – Transplant Anesthesiology Fellowship, UNMC
Fellows’ Future Plans:
Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology
Alyssa Green, DO – Anesthesiology Associates, Sioux Falls, SD
Brendan Mitchelson, MD – Anesthesia Associates of Kansas City, Overland Park, Kan.
Harrison Wurster, MD – Private Practice, St. Paul, MN
Critical Care
Stephen Brannan, MD – Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship, UNMC
Karolyn Fox-Dahl, MD – MidPlains Anesthesiology and Critical Care Group, Kearney, Neb.
Zeid Kalarikkal, MD – Aurora St Luke’s, Milwaukee, WI
Pain Medicine
Ryan Birkland, DO – Central States Pain, Des Moines, Iowa
Marshall Ladd, DO – UNMC Faculty, Omaha, Neb.
Pediatric Anesthesiology
Gabriel Gallegos, MD – Anesthesia Associates of Kansas City, Overland Park, Kan.
(October 2020 Graduate) Britta Dosland, MD – Associated Anesthesiologists, PA, St. Paul, MN