Residents from the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine presented their research and case reports at the 2025 Midwest Anesthesia Resident Conference (MARC), held April 25–27 in Indianapolis. Founded in 1961, MARC has grown into the largest anesthesia resident conference in the world. The annual event brought together anesthesia professionals, researchers, and trainees from across the Midwest to present unique medical cases, share novel research and quality improvement initiatives, and network with colleagues and leaders in the field.
“We are incredibly proud of our residents’ outstanding performance at this year’s MARC. Their work highlights the depth of clinical expertise, innovation, and academic rigor that defines our program,” said Sydney Nykiel-Bailey, DO, associate program director.
Fifteen residents presented case studies across a wide range of clinical categories. Eight earned top-three placements in their respective categories—an impressive achievement that speaks to the strength of their preparation and the high caliber of training they receive at WashU Medicine. Read below to learn more about the participants and their presentations:
Nathan Achilly, MD, PhD (CA2) – Cardiovascular: “ECMO-assisted adrenalectomy in an adult with uncorrected tetralogy of Fallot and pheochromocytoma.”
Shreya Goswami, MD (CA3) – General (2nd Place): “Fluid management in case of type 1 diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemia and hemorrhagic shock.”
Rebecca Chen (CA3) – Pediatrics: “Suspecting and diagnosing a case of pseudocholinesterase deficiency in a pediatric patient.”
Ryan DeAngelis, MD (CA3) – Critical Care: “Emergent resuscitation in a blunt trauma patient on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).”
Parita Jani, MD (CA3) – Regional (2nd Place): “Inhaled epoprostenol via high-flow nasal cannula for pulmonary hypertension under epidural analgesia.”
Sadia Karani, MD (CA3) – General: “Management of general anesthesia in a high-risk patient with myasthenia gravis.”
Monica Ketchum, DO (CA1) – Cardiovascular: “Managing leadless pacemaker dysfunction in cardiac surgery: lessons from a case of intraoperative asystole.”
Joseph Miller, MD (CA3) – Cardiovascular (2nd Place): “Ascending aortic prosthetic graft endocarditis with accompanying pulmonary artery abscess.”
Rasheeq Nizam (CA3) – Regional (1st Place): “Primary regional anesthesia for orthopedic surgery in a case of severe pulmonary hypertension.”
Deborah Rupert, MD, PhD, MA, MS (PGY1) – Pediatrics (1st Place): “Scurvy in the perioperative setting.”
Karina Shah, MD, MBA (CA1) – Pediatrics (3rd Place): “Tetralogy of Flow: balancing pulmonary and systemic perfusion with a shared airway.”
Bianca Szafarowicz, DO (CA1) – Pediatrics: “Sodium channelopathies — what a pain!”
Chizoba Umesi, MD (CA3) – General (3rd Place): “Intraoperative blood loss management for a Jehovah’s Witness patient in complex spinal surgery.”
Jeffrey Wheritt, DO (CA3) – Pain Medicine: “Combination of lumbar and caudal epidural for metastatic cancer-related pain.”
