Jessica Goeller, DO, vice chair and chief of pediatric anesthesiology in the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology, has been appointed president of the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists (AOCA).
Dr. Goeller, who has served in leadership roles on the Board of Governors with AOCA since 2020, officially assumed the presidency at the organization’s annual meeting held in Savannah, Georgia on Sept. 2025. She will serve a one-year term through October 2026.
“I’m proud to represent the anesthesia profession on the national stage,” Dr. Goeller said. “As the first board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist and full professor at UNMC who is an osteopathic physician, it’s an honor to serve in a role that reflects both my professional roots and the strength of our department’s national presence.”
AOCA was founded in 1952 to support osteopathic anesthesiologists through education, advocacy and community-building. While it was founded within the osteopathic tradition, Dr. Goeller notes that its meetings and membership are inclusive of both MDs and DOs.
“Just like the American Society of Anesthesiologists, our members are anesthesiologists from every training background,” she said. “We’re a smaller, more boutique college, but our impact and connections run deep.”
Dr. Goeller first joined the AOCA Board of Governors in 2020, the same year she chaired the organization’s national meeting, the largest in its history, drawing nearly 600 attendees. She has since served as chair of the professional education committee leading the organization of national conferences, vice president and now president.
As president, Dr. Goeller said her priorities center on advancing education, mentorship and technology within the field of anesthesiology.
“Our future depends on investing in the next generation of anesthesiologists,” she said. “Medical students, residents and early-career physicians deserve meaningful opportunities to learn, grow and contribute. AOCA is creating dedicated interest groups and forums for them, places to engage, ask questions and shape their careers.”
She also sees leveraging technology, including artificial intelligence, as essential to keeping the field adaptable and forward-looking. “If we only use the old tools, we’ll fall behind the needs and opportunities in front of us,” she said.
Dr. Goeller is the first pediatric anesthesiologist to serve as AOCA president and one of only six women in the organization’s history to hold the role. She believes this perspective enriches how she approaches leadership alongside her remarkable male leadership colleagues.
“Pediatric anesthesia requires a different kind of finesse,” she said. “Every day I’m working with children and their caregivers, earning trust, easing fear and finding creative ways to communicate. That builds empathy and adaptability, which I hope to bring to this role.”
Alongside education, Dr. Goeller is committed to strengthening mentorship and wellness programming, two areas she says are increasingly critical for the anesthesia workforce.
“Well-being is no longer something to brush aside, it’s an absolute priority,” she said. “We’re making sure wellness is built into education, mentorship and leadership opportunities, and that we’re listening and evolving with the needs of our members.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Goeller hopes to leave a legacy of energy, inclusivity and momentum.
“I want to inspire others to build on these priorities long after my term,” she said. “This is about honoring the legacy of those who came before us while embracing the perspectives of new generations.”
Dr. Goeller said she’s proud to bring this leadership back to Nebraska. “Nebraska has become home,” she said. “Representing our department and university at the national level is a privilege and a reflection of the strength of our entire team.”