Our success is intimately linked to the accomplishments of each and every member of our department.
Each month, four members are nominated and featured to celebrate their commitment to patient care, education, and research.
Current Featured Anesthesiology Department Members
Léa Becker, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Marissa Caruso, AGACNP
Nurse Practitioner
Paul Knocke
Division Administrator
Hero Robles, MD
Resident Physician
Featured Anesthesiology Department Members Archive
Ben Fiori, RN
Senior Manager of Clinical Trials and Operations
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: August 2025
Ben Fiori, has been a vital member of the Division of Clinical and Translational Research (DoCTR) since joining the Department of Anesthesiology in May 2019. He earned his bachelor of science in biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2012 and his bachelor of science in nursing from Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes Jewish College in 2015. Over the years, he has held several roles in the department, progressing from research nurse coordinator to nurse manager, and currently serves as thesenior manager of clinical trials and operations. Fiori brings a unique and valuable skill set to the research team, with extensive experience in managing clinical operations both in academia and for contract research organizations. His work has spanned early-phase bioequivalence and bioavailability studies, as well as Phase I–III drug and device trials across diverse areas such as oncology, surgery, cardiology, and anesthesiology. He currently oversees a team of approximately 45 research staff and leads initiatives related to clinical trial feasibility, staffing, and protocol execution.
Ben grew up in Calhoun County, Illinois. Outside of work, he enjoys playing volleyball, gardening, cooking & baking, camping, and spending time with his husband, friends, two dogs (Bella and Duke), and two cats (Lou and Mac).
Maureen Flanagan, RN, MSN
Nurse Practitioner
Department of Anesthesiology APP of the Quarter: December 2022
Maureen Flanagan (She/Her) is a nurse practitioner from Dallas, Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2014 and went on to earn her RN and MSN from Yale University in 2017. She has been practicing in the Surgical ICUs here at BJH since her graduation in 2017. In her free time, she loves exploring new places around the world, cooking new pasta recipes, and spending time with her dog, Luka.
Maureen was named the Q4 2022 APP of the Quarter! Her nominator says, “Maureen works hard in difficult situations and goes above & beyond to provide great care for her patients. She’s smart and is a true team player.”
Catherine Foster, MD
Resident Physician, Class of 2020
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: September 2019
Cat is a resident physician in her final year of training with the Department of Anesthesiology. She’s currently looking forward to the excitement of the upcoming resident recruitment season. Outside of work, she enjoys adding to her laps of Forest Park, and exploring the vastly underrated hiking trails of Missouri.
Vinny Francio, MD
Clinical Instructor, Division of Pain Medicine; WashU Pain Center
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2025
Vinny Francio is a clinical instructor in the Division of Pain Medicine at the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine. Born and raised in Brazil in an Italian family, he, like most kids in Brazil, first dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. When that didn’t work out, he pursued music with hopes of becoming a rockstar, but that path also took a different turn. His journey eventually led him to healthcare, first as a chiropractor before moving to the U.S. 15 years ago to further his education. He earned a Master’s in Clinical Research and completed his residency and pain fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Now specializing in the comprehensive management of spine and chronic pain disorders, Dr. Francio takes a multidisciplinary approach while incorporating advanced minimally invasive procedures. Since joining WashU Pain Center in October 2024, he has introduced innovative pain interventions to enhance patient care and advance medical education. Passionate about academic medicine, he values the opportunity to combine clinical practice, research, and teaching while mentoring the next generation of pain specialists.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Francio enjoys traveling and frequently lectures at national and international pain conferences, combining his love for education and traveling. When not in clinic, in procedures, or in the OR, he finds time to indulge his lifelong passions—playing soccer, guitar, and drums in his spare time. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and their two horses, supporting her equestrian hunter-jumper activities.