UNMC medical students and anesthesiology residents again delivered exceptional performances at the annual Midwest Anesthesia Resident Conference, held April 25-27 in Indianapolis.
The event, sponsored by the Association of Midwest Academic Anesthesia Chairs (AMAAC) and hosted by Indiana University, the University of Louisville, and the University of Toledo, brought together trainees and faculty from across the region in a collaborative, educational setting.
This year’s conference attracted participants from 37 anesthesia departments across the Midwest. Since its inception in 1961, MARC has grown into a cornerstone for academic development in anesthesiology, with annual attendance surpassing 600 individuals, making it the largest anesthesia resident conference in North America.
Andrea Dutoit, MD, said MARC is important because it serves as a platform for education, collaboration, and professional development amongst anesthesia residents, students and faculty. “This annual event provides a setting designed to foster support and growth for anesthesiology trainees by showcasing the breadth of their experiences in research and clinical education,” she said. “I am very proud for all the residents and faculty mentors whose dedication and hard work were evident this year.”
The mission of MARC is to support and promote resident and student research, foster scholarly exchange and provide a platform for residents to present challenging clinical cases and innovative research projects.
Presentations were evaluated by a panel of judges, with awards given for first, second and third place in both oral and poster presentation categories. Special monetary awards, sponsored by AMAAC, were presented to the top three recipients in the Basic Science poster category.
UNMC participants continued the department’s strong tradition of academic excellence at the conference. In 2025, four residents were recognized for their outstanding work:
- Robert Guidangen, MD – First Place, Pain Medicine Anesthesiology
“Spinal cord stimulation for complex abdominal pain in a multivisceral transplant patient”
Mentor: Kimberley Haynes-Henson, MD - Cameron Evans, MD – Second Place, Pediatric Anesthesiology
“Anesthetic Considerations in Pediatric Patients with Mitochondrial Disorders”
Mentor: Cale Kassel, MD - Melanie Kaiser, MD – Third Place, Critical Care Anesthesiology
“Utilization of combination VV ECMO and Impella placement in cardiopulmonary failure”
Mentor: Joseph Pawlowski, MD - Zachary Egr, MD – Third Place, Cardiovascular Anesthesiology
“PFO closure using echonavigator for 3D mapping and fluoroscopic guidance: a case report”
Mentor: Nick Markin, MD
Additional UNMC presentations included:
- Ifunanya Ejikeme, DO – “Intra-operative anaphylaxis reaction to thymoglobulin”
Mentor: Amanda Arnzen, MD - Shadashalin Pierce, MD – “Anesthetic Considerations for a Liver Transplant in a Patient with HOCM”
Mentor: Cale Kassel, MD - Jenna Wright, DO – “Epulis tumor in neonate”
Mentor: Greta Duncan-Wiebe, MD
Medical student presenters also made significant contributions:
- Andrew Rappolt – “Complications of a gastrocolic fistula diagnosed during colonoscopy”
Mentor: Andrew Braith, MD - Ethan Ruh – “Hyperkalemic cardiac arrest during pediatric liver transplantation”
Mentor: Trevor Wilke, MD
Department chair, Andrew Patterson, MD, PhD, applauded all participants and thanked faculty mentors for their guidance and support. “The MARC conference this year in Indianapolis was a tremendous success and once again, UNMC was well-represented,” said Dr. Patterson. “Several of the individuals who represented us received awards for their outstanding work. The event clearly demonstrated how exceptional anesthesiology trainees are and how effectively the specialty is attracting the best and brightest medical students.”