Fellows and residents of the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology Class of 2023 celebrated their graduation June 3 at the Omaha Country Club.
Resident program director Andrea Dutoit, MD, commended the 2023 graduates on their achievements.
“Take a moment to recognize the incredible amount of work it has taken to get here and congratulate yourselves on a job well done,” Dr. Dutoit said. “We are proud of you, we believe in you and we are thankful to have been part of your growth.”
Post-graduation plans for each resident and fellow were announced, and annual departmental honors were presented, including Teacher of the Year Awards that recognize faculty who have gone above and beyond in providing an excellent educational experience for residents and fellows. This year’s recipients were:
- CBY Teacher of the Year – Christopher Bingcang, MD, and Jayme Dowdall, MD
- CA1 Teacher of the Year – Kristin Wakin, MD
- CA2 Teacher of the Year – Stephen Brannan, MD
- CA3 Teacher of the Year – Sean Karre, MD
- Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Teacher of the Year – Troy Wildes, MD
- Critical Care Anesthesiology Teacher of the Year – Thomas Perry, DO
- Pediatric Anesthesiology Teacher of the Year – Stephanie Shin, MD
- Pediatric Congenital Cardiac Anesthesiology Teacher of the Year – Kerri George, MD
Certificates of Academic Excellence were awarded to the following:
- Alec Seei, DO
- Jeremy Payne, MD
- Zachary (Zach) Schell, MD
- Elizabeth Ternent-Rech, DO
- Kevin Rance, MD
- Megan (Meg) Rolfzen, MD
- Michael Blaha, MD
- Jae Cauble, DO
- Michael Dancer, MD
- Jocelyn Mulkey, MD
- John Riley III, MD
- Blaine Schlawin, DO (pediatric anesthesiology fellow)
- Apollo Stack, MD (pain medicine fellow)
Resident chiefs Drs. Dancer and Meyer each were presented a plaque recognizing their year of service to the department.
Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education, Chandrakanth Are, MBBS, presented Peter Pellegrino, MD, PhD, the Graduate Medical Education Committee House Officer of the Year Award. The annual award is based on nominations from program directors and votes by faculty, house officers and medical students.
“These awards are given to those who have excelled based on rigorous metrics and only four are awarded out of approximately 700 house officers at UNMC.” Dr. Are said. “This award is not only a testament to your hard work but a reflection of the amazing leadership in the anesthesiology department.”
This year, the Brad Paulson Memorial Award – given to an outstanding medical student pursuing a UNMC residency in anesthesiology – went to Anthony Stephenson, MD.
Dr. Dutoit congratulated the graduates for their clinical and academic excellence, as well as their overall attitude, leadership, perseverance and camaraderie. “It has been a privilege and honor to be a part of your training,” she said.
The department presented each graduate with a diploma, monogrammed blanket and a framed word collage with praise from mentors and colleagues.
Graduating residents, and their post-graduation plans, are as follows:
Residents:
Michael Blaha, MD – Associated Anesthesiologists, Lincoln, Neb.
Jae Cauble, DO – Ozark Anesthesia Associates, Springfield, Missouri.
Michael Dancer, MD – Cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship, UNMC
Bradley Eichhorn, MD – Cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship, UNMC
Julie Beth Gillespie, MD – Critical care fellowship, University of Chicago
Taylor Meyer, MD – Faculty, UNMC Department of Anesthesiology
Robert Muelleman, MD – Pain medicine fellowship, UNMC, Omaha, Neb.
Jocelyn Mulkey, MD – Pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora,
John Riley III, MD – Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship at Oregon State Health Science University, Portland, Oregon
Cole Sievers, MD – Pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at University of Texas-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas.
Fellows
Cardiothoracic
Sagar Bansal, MBBS – Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Missouri-Columbia
Christopher Kelsheimer, MD – Private practice, St. Louis
Natalie Rea, MD – Private practice, Minneapolis
Valerie Verdun, MD – Private practice, Minneapolis
Patrick Ward, DO – Faculty, University Hospital, Cardiac and Critical Care, University of Missouri-Columbia
Critical Care
Kyle Gronbeck, MD – Faculty, Sanford Health – Fargo, Critical Care/Emergency Medicine Departments, Fargo, North Dakota
Molly Johnson, MD – Private practice, Lake Regional Health System, Osage Beach, Missouri
Kevin McKillion, DO – Cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship, UNMC
Peter Pellegrino, MD, PhD – Pain medicine fellowship, UNMC
Daniel Raboin, MD – Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Pain Medicine
Katie Berky, MD – OrthoNebraska, Omaha
Apollo Stack, MD – OrthoNebraska, Omaha
Melanie Wood, MD – Plans still in progress.
Pediatric Anesthesiology
Blaine Schlawin, DO – PC at UnityPoint Health, Des Moines, Iowa
Regional Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Rafael Lombardi, MD – Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Anesthesiology
Congenital Cardiac Anesthesiology
Erin Renze, DO – Pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha
Liver Transplant Anesthesiology
Rachel Quandahl, MD – Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Anesthesiology