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
Kelly Gannon
Compliance Review/Claims Analyst
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: May 2025
Kelly joined the Department of Anesthesiology in November 2018 and currently serves as the Compliance Review/Claims Analyst within the billing division. Her career at WashU includes previous roles in the departments of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Orthopedics, and Otolaryngology.
Kelly began her career as a medical coder and was quickly promoted to team lead—a role she held for five years before stepping into her current position. Her responsibilities include auditing billed charges and provider documentation, offering education and training, and running reports to identify and submit missing charges. She especially enjoys supporting her colleagues with complex cases and collaborating with providers to ensure accuracy. Passionate about the ever-evolving nature of medical coding, Kelly thrives on its challenges and continuous learning opportunities.
A lifelong resident of Millstadt, Illinois, Kelly still calls her hometown home, where she lives with two of her three daughters. She previously served as an EMT for the local ambulance service and has a soft spot for animals, sharing her home with three adopted cats: Ash, Cheeseball, and Itty Bitty. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, trying new foods, working out, and doing puzzles. She’s especially excited about an upcoming trip to Yosemite in April 2025.
Fun fact: Kelly recently became a first-time grandmother! Her daughter MacKenzie and son-in-law Weston welcomed baby Easton in July 2024.
Katie Geist
Grant Specialist II
Department of Anesthesiology FAS Employee of the Quarter: January 2025
Originally from St. Louis, Katie earned her undergraduate degree from Northwest Missouri State University. After, she moved to Nebraska and worked as a ministry partner on campus and in various financial positions. Five years later, she moved back to St. Louis and began working for WashU Medicine in November 2019. Katie, now a Grant Specialist II, joined the Department of Anesthesiology in July 2022. She has a background in the research administrative process with both pre- and post-award experience. Katie and her husband, Ben, have a spunky and beautiful daughter. Katie loves meeting new people, board games, swimming, and video games.
Preeta George, MD
Clinical Director of Simulation, Anesthesiology; Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology; Medical Director of Simulation at the Howard and Joyce Wood Simulation Center
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2021
Preeta is from India and spent her childhood in a historic town named Chettinad, known for its cuisine, and she spent her school years in an Irish boarding school.
Her medical journey commenced in India, and she completed medical school and residency in anesthesiology at CMC, Vellore. In pursuit of career advancement, she traveled across the world to Minneapolis in 2009 and worked as a postdoctoral associate doing animal research at the University of Minnesota. She completed a second anesthesia residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a Pediatric Anesthesia fellowship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and never left.
Preeta is currently an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Anesthesiology and Director of the Fetal Anesthesia Program and has helped develop the program. Her other area of specialized focus is in pediatric liver transplants. On the academic forefront, she is passionate about medical education and simulation and is the clinical immersion leader for the new medical student curriculum, which launched this year. She enjoys teaching and working with residents, fellows, and CRNA’s.
Her husband, Ige, works in Infectious Disease at WashU, and their 5-year-old, Diya, is spirited and keeps their age in check! She enjoys tennis and is happy to orchestrate a “Wash U Grand slam” for those interested. Hiking and traveling are favorites too.
Lauren Gibson, MBA, MHA
Director of Education & Business Administration
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: July 2024
Lauren Gibson, MBA, MHA, has dedicated the past 10 years of her career to WashU Medicine, where she currently serves as the Director of Education & Business Administration. Known for her strategic acumen and dedication to fostering growth, Lauren plays a pivotal role in leading our education programs and administrative teams.
Outside of her professional commitments, Lauren is a fiercely devoted fan of Florida State University, her alma mater, showcasing unwavering support for the university’s endeavors. She finds joy in traveling to sporting events — a recent highlight being the Monaco Grand Prix.
Beyond sports, Lauren has a deep-seated passion for international travel, seeking out destinations that offer rich culinary experiences, vibrant cultures, and breathtaking scenery. Her travels serve as both a source of relaxation and an opportunity for personal enrichment.
Lauren continues to combine her professional expertise with her personal interests, aiming to make a positive impact both professionally and through her adventurous pursuits.