{"id":124009,"date":"2025-07-24T09:47:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T14:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=124009"},"modified":"2025-07-30T10:42:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T15:42:10","slug":"leadership-updates-in-the-unmc-department-of-anesthesiology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/07\/24\/leadership-updates-in-the-unmc-department-of-anesthesiology\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership updates in the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The UNMC Department of Anesthesiology announced several leadership transitions effective July 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Levi Zehr, MD, has been appointed medical director of perioperative quality and process improvement. In this role, Dr. Zehr will lead departmental efforts to enhance the quality, safety and value of perioperative care in collaboration with Nebraska Medicine\u2019s Chief Quality Officer, surgical partners and department colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Zehr completed both his anesthesiology residency and critical care fellowship at UNMC before joining the department in 2022. Troy Wildes, MD, professor and vice chair of perioperative medicine, quality, and safety, recognized Dr. Zehr\u2019s clinical excellence, collaborative spirit, and dedication to education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDr. Zehr\u2019s track record of academic excellence, institutional service, and passion for quality improvement make him exceptionally well-suited for this leadership role,\u201d Dr. Wildes said. \u201cHe is also a dedicated educator, actively engaged in the training and mentorship of medical students, residents, and fellows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As medical director, Dr. Zehr will serve as the department\u2019s Quality Champion for the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) and co-chair the Perioperative and Procedural Quality Committee. His work will focus on developing clinical strategies and care pathways that improve patient outcomes, operational efficiency and safety across the surgical continuum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kristin Wakin, MD, has been appointed the section head of obstetric anesthesia, replacing Charles Walcutt, MD. A former UNMC anesthesia resident and faculty member since 2018, Dr. Wakin has been recognized as an outstanding educator throughout her career. She has received the Teacher of the Year Award three times, the Outstanding Teacher Award from the UNMC Faculty Senate and was a finalist for the Interprofessional Academy of Educators Emerging Educator Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allyson Hascall, MD, multispecialty division chief, said Dr. Wakin has a deep passion for obstetric anesthesia and is active with the Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology as an abstract reviewer and case presentation moderator. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to her leadership in this role,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tara Braake, MD, cardiothoracic anesthesiology division chief, announced Kristi Lorenzen, MD, will assume the role as director of the cath lab. Dr. Braake thanked outgoing director, Katie Goergen, MD, for her exceptional leadership and commitment to the cath lab during a period of tremendous growth and procedural advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDr. Lorenzen has graciously agreed to assume the directorship of the cath lab and continue its forward momentum,\u201d Dr. Braake said. \u201cPlease join us in thanking Dr. Goergen for her service and congratulating Dr. Lorenzen on her new leadership role.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Levi Zehr, MD, Kristin Wakin, MD, and Kristi Lorenzen, MD, will assume new roles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":124014,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"60849,72363,31225,20956,32849,57216","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","department-anesthesiology","author_override-sarah-hankin-unmc-strategic-communications"],"yoast_head":"\nLeadership updates in the UNMC 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