As a pediatric anesthesiologist, Difficult Airway Service director and Residency Program Director, Dr. Nykiel-Basiley wears a lot of hats at WashU Medicine. But outside the hospital, she’s also a mom, wife and friend who makes time for family, the outdoors and a little friendly competition. Here’s a look at a day in her life, both in and out of the hospital.
Workday
5:00 a.m. – Coffee first
I’m an early riser. I start with coffee, a quick scan of email, and a look at the day ahead. My schedule is usually a mix of clinical care, teaching, resident meetings, and program leadership—and inevitably, the actual day looks a little different than the calendar.
6:30 a.m. – St. Louis Children’s Hospital
As a pediatric anesthesiologist, I care for children ranging from healthy kids having routine procedures to some of our most medically complex patients. I also direct our Difficult Airway Service, so some days involve helping coordinate care for children who require a little more planning—and sometimes a lot more planning.
Morning – My happy place: the OR
I love taking care of kids, and I love teaching. Working with residents and fellows in the OR gives me the best of both worlds. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching a trainee progress from “I’m not sure I can do this” to “I’ve got this.”
Late Morning–Afternoon – Change hats
Then the Residency Program Director part of my day kicks into gear. I may be meeting with residents and chiefs, mentoring, working on curriculum and recruitment, reviewing schedules, or tackling the inevitable problem no one anticipated when the day started.
The best part is the people. I get to watch residents arrive as interns and, four years later, graduate as confident anesthesiologists. I see my role as part coach, part advocate, part problem-solver—and occasionally part air-traffic controller. A big part of the job is listening and continuing to ask: How can we make this better?
Late Afternoon – From the OR to the sidelines
My other very important title is Mom. Lilly is a junior in high school and Gwyn is a freshman, and during golf and tennis season, leaving work often means heading straight to a match. I’ve become very good at transitioning from the OR to the sidelines.
Evening – Reset
My husband and I love taking walks together. It’s our chance to catch up without an agenda, email, or meeting—and to help me hit my goal of 10,000 steps a day! We also love dinner with friends whenever everyone’s schedules magically align.
Night – Just one more email…
I’d love to say I completely disconnect at night, but there is usually one last email check and a glance at tomorrow’s calendar before lights out.
Non-Workday
7:00 a.m. – Sleeping in, relatively speaking
After years in medicine, 7:00 a.m. absolutely qualifies as sleeping in. A slower morning and coffee without somewhere to be before sunrise already feels like a win.
Morning – Get outside!
Weekends are for being outside whenever possible. That might mean a trip to the farmers market, watching Lilly or Gwyn play tennis or golf, or attempting to hold my own in a pickleball game with friends. Ideally, the morning ends with brunch and some pool time in the summer.
Afternoon – Go where the day takes us
I spend so much of my workweek living by a calendar that I love having weekends with a little less structure. We might stay at the golf course or tennis courts, run around town, meet up with friends, or simply enjoy having nowhere we absolutely need to be.
Evening – Friends, food, and a real reset
We love dinner with friends—good food, good conversation, lots of laughing, and preferably no discussion of medicine or PowerPoint presentations. It definitely helps to have a husband who isn’t in medicine and keeps me grounded in a world outside the hospital.
Night – Recharge
Medicine and residency leadership are a huge part of my life, but the time outside the hospital keeps everything in perspective. I get to care for children, teach and mentor future anesthesiologists, and lead a residency program I care deeply about—and then come home and simply be a wife, mom, and friend.
It’s a full life, and one I’m grateful for. By Sunday night, I’m usually ready to do it all again Monday morning—after coffee, of course.
