Rachel Quandahl, MD, has been appointed director of the liver transplant fellowship, just over two years after joining the faculty at the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology.
Allyson Hascall, MD, division chief of multispecialty anesthesiology, said Dr. Quandahl’s passion for education, clinical excellence and complex patient care uniquely position her to lead the program.
Dr. Quandahl joined the department as faculty in 2023 after completing her residency and liver transplant fellowship at UNMC.
“Patients receiving a liver transplant are some of the most complicated patients to take care of,” Dr. Quandahl said. “What excites me most about this role is shaping a program that prepares fellows to not only meet but thrive in that challenge.”
The program accepts one fellow per year, allowing for focused mentorship and tailored learning.
Dr. Quandahl describes the ideal liver transplant fellow as someone with deep clinical knowledge, advanced technical skill and the ability to make fast, confident decisions in high-acuity moments. But beyond procedural mastery, she said she hopes fellows graduate with something even more enduring.
“My goal is that anyone training in our program leaves feeling extremely confident in whatever future job they pursue,” she said.
Looking ahead, Dr. Quandahl already is exploring opportunities to expand and innovate the program. With growing interest among residents in dual-training tracks, such as combining transplant anesthesia with cardiac or ICU training, she envisions more integrated options for fellows whose interests cross disciplines.
Dr. Quandahl said a unique strength of the program is the strong pediatric training offered in addition to the adult liver transplant cases, including liver transplants, small bowel transplants, multivisceral transplants and intestinal rehab surgeries.
“We’re one of the few centers in the country that routinely performs multivisceral transplants,” Dr. Quandahl said. “These are extraordinarily complex cases and offer an unparalleled training experience.”
Dr. Hascall congratulated Dr. Quandahl on her new role, noting that she has been active in the education side of the department since she began and is currently acting as co-director of the anesthesia medical student rotation.