UF Anesthesiology

05/26/2026

Congratulations to Abbey Doege, research administrator I, for winning the Pam Whitlock Rising Star Award! 👏 She received the award at the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) Region III meeting, held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The NCURA advances the research administration profession through education and professional development programs.

Abbey attended the meeting with Martin Noguera, M.S., assistant director of research administration, to share their knowledge of the field and best practices. They hosted a jeopardy segment called “I’ll Take RA for $500” to prepare participants for future examinations.

05/23/2026

: Victor Adepoju, M.D., Rachel Baker, M.D., and Jonah Whiteside, M.D., were selected as chief residents for the current academic year! They will serve from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.

As chief residents, they will work together as a team to support their co-residents and the missions of the department, the UF College of Medicine, and UF Health. They were chosen because they showed leadership qualities, high academic achievement, and professionalism in their third year of anesthesiology residency.

Read more 👇️

The UF Department of Anesthesiology is pleased to announce our three new chief residents for the upcoming academic year. Victor Adepoju, M.D., Rachel Baker, M.D., and Jonah Whiteside, M.D., will serve from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. As chief residents, they will work together as a team t...

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Andrea Macias Mendoza, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology, who was chosen by our residents as the April 2026 Faculty Educator of the Month! 👏

Dr. Mendoza’s nominations commend her for recognizing when to let residents take charge and when to step in and lead: “On mole, Dr. Mendoza was so willing to take the time to teach, allow residents to teach each other, and fully support during multiple traumas balancing autonomy and hands on patient care.” One resident said, “She’s always a joy to work with, and I always learn something new working with her.”

View opportunities to join our faculty 👉 https://anest.ufl.edu/recruitment/

05/20/2026

A recent study published by researchers at the University of Florida reports that bilateral orthotopic lung transplantation was a life-saving treatment for patients with end stage pulmonary disease caused by COVID 19, even when those patients required prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

The article, “Clinical Characteristics and Postoperative Outcomes of Bilateral Lung Transplantation for COVID-19–Induced End-Stage Pulmonary Disease: A Single-Center Experience in a High Acuity Patient Population,” was published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. It was coauthored by Department of Anesthesiology faculty T. Everett Jones, M.D., Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., and Yong G. Peng, M.D., Ph.D., along with former department members and colleagues from the Departments of Surgery and Medicine.

Learn more about the study 👉 https://com-anest-a2.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/2026/05/20/study-details-lifesaving-treatment-for-covid‑19-end‑stage-lung-disease/

05/18/2026

Congratulations to Cameron Myers, M.D., who was chosen by his peers as the April 2026 Resident of the Month!

Dr. Myers' nominations emphasize his great teamwork skills and helpful attitude: "He is an outstanding team player who is always willing to step in and help wherever needed." Another co-resident said, "He consistently supports his co-residents, maintains a positive attitude, and is someone the team can always rely on."

Learn about our residency program 👉 https://anest.ufl.edu/education/residency/

05/16/2026

: The UF Department of Anesthesiology’s Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) has moved from the Harrell Medical Education Building to room CG-15 on the ground floor of the Communicore Building, bringing the lab closer to the department and making its training and simulation resources more accessible.

CSSALT trains learners and professionals on how to use equipment, practice procedures, and refine care processes via simulation. Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D., the Joachim S. Gravenstein Professor of Anesthesiology, is the director of CSSALT and Christopher Samouce, Ph.D., assistant scientist; David Lizdas, engineer III; and Simon Mesber, application programmer I, are his core team, along with many student volunteers who obtain hands-on experience in biomedical engineering.

Learn more about the ongoing research and simulations at CSSALT 👇️

The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology’s Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) moved from the Harrell Medical Education Building to room CG-15 on the ground floor of the Communicore Building, bringing the lab closer to the department and makin...

05/15/2026

We had 16 publications listed in PubMed in April! Congratulations to our faculty with publications: Drs. Bashir, Beltran, Boezaart, Chapin, Chembrovich, Garvin, Gravenstein, Haas, Ihnatsenka, Jimenez Ruiz, Lampotang, Luria, Martin, Maybauer, Przkora, Reina, Robicsek, Samouce, Schutte, Shah, Slowey, Walker, Wendling, and Zasimovich.

Check out all of these publications on our website 👉️ https://com-anest-a2.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/2026/05/15/april-2026-publications/

05/14/2026

Today, UF College of Medicine students joined us for Perioperative Procedure Day, a part of their Transition to Residency Course. Medical students in the perioperative group, which include those going into the field of anesthesiology, participated in a hands-on workshop, rotating through multiple simulation stations. Some of our current anesthesiology residents assisted in the training as part of their Resident Academic Day. Many thanks to all who helped train and organize the workshop! 👏

Learn more about our anesthesiology residency 👉 https://anest.ufl.edu/education/residency/

05/13/2026

Please help us welcome Melissa Vu, M.D., to the UF Department of Anesthesiology. She joined us as an associate professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesiology.

Dr. Vu earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Kansas City, where she also completed her anesthesiology residency. She finished her fellowship in cardiovascular/thoracic anesthesia at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dr. Vu’s second academic appointment in her medical career was here in our department, where she spent eight years, starting in 2008. During her time at UF, she was involved in many committees, including the Peer Review Committee and the UF Health OR Policy & Procedure Subcommittee.

Throughout her career, Dr. Vu has co-authored works on spinal fusion surgery and endocarditis.

View opportunities to join our faculty 👉 https://anest.ufl.edu/recruitment/

05/11/2026

We are so proud of our Department of Anesthesiology faculty who were recognized at the UF College of Medicine Spring Faculty Assembly! Dr. Laurie Davies received a Lifetime Achievement Award and a pin for 40 years of service, Dr. Kiki Nin earned both a college-level and departmental Clinical Excellence Award, and Drs. Michael Arnold and Tim Feldheim were honored as departmental Rising Stars. Read the full story at the link below and join us in congratulating these outstanding physicians! 🎉🐊

https://go.ufl.edu/jh5tm17

05/09/2026

We had a great time at the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists 2026 annual meeting, where some of our residents and all of our cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellows presented posters. Shout out to Kellen Creech, D.O., CA-3 resident, whose case report was named one of the “Best in Show” podium presentations. Congratulations to all who contributed their research! 👏