Last weekend, residents from the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine presented their research at the 2026 Midwest Anesthesia Resident Conference (MARC), held April 17-19 in Cleveland, Ohio. The group of 16 residents shared case studies across a range of clinical categories, with eight residents earning top-three placements in their respective tracks.
“MARC is a great opportunity for residents to present their work and learn from others,” said Sydney Nykiel-Bailey, DO, residency program director. “We’re proud of our residents for representing WashU Medicine and for the recognition they received.”
Founded in 1961, MARC draws residents, fellows, faculty, and students from across the Midwest and beyond, providing a setting for them to share ideas, learn from peers, and connect with others in anesthesiology. The conference has grown into the largest anesthesia resident meeting in North America, with more than 600 attendees from over 35 anesthesia departments. For residents, this year’s meeting offered both recognition for their work and a chance to engage with the broader training community.
Read below to learn more about the participants and their presentations:
Garrett Candelaria, MD (CA2) – Regional: “A very rare complication of spinal anesthesia: cerebellar tonsillar herniation rescued with an epidural blood patch.”
Jin Choi, MD (PGY1) – Pediatrics (1st place): “Anesthetic management of partial trisomy 16 in pediatric patient”
Brandon DeClouette, MD (CA3) – Cardiovascular (3rd place): “Tension hydrothorax during whole lung lavage on vv-ecmo”
Sophia Downey, MBBS (PGY1) – Pediatrics: “Rocuronium dosing, recurrent neuromuscular blockade and extubation failure” and “hypertension following dexmedetomidine and glycopyrrolate administration”
Bayardo Garay, MD, PhD (Intern) – Pediatrics (2nd place): “Compounded ketoacidosis in a pediatric patient”
Monica Ketchum, DO (CA2) – Cardiovascular (3rd place): “Combined cabg and ivc thrombectomy for metastatic rcc: anesthetic considerations”
Christopher Lee, MD, MS (CA3) – General (3rd place): “Intraoperative diagnosis of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction during liver transplant”
Cindy Li, MS, MD (CA1) – Airway: “A breathe too strong: negative pressure pulmonary edema following upper airway surgery”
Burk Loekliger, MD (CA3) – Obstetrical (1st place): “Emergent c-section in trauma patient after gun shot wound to the abdomen”
Leighton McCabe, MD (CA3) – Obstetrical: “Hypothermia with subjective hyperthermia after intrathecal morphine”
Hero Robles, MD – Pediatrics: “Anesthetic implications and management of a neonate undergoing urgent open craniosynostosis repair with an intracardiac shunt”
Deborah Rupert, MD, PhD, MA, MS (CA1) – Cardiovascular: “Repeat sternotomy for mital valve replacement in a gravid, amish patient”
Roberta Teixera Tallarico, MB (CA1) – Airway (2nd place): “Multicenter variation in supraglottic airway device use and pulmonary complications – focus on the obese population”
Miguel Valdez, MD (CA1) – Obstetrical (2nd place): “Severe peripartum pulmonary hypertension complicated by intra-operative cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock: a case report”
