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
Catherine Gould, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Parita Jani, MD
ACTA Fellow
Sherry McKinnon
Manager of Clinical Research, Regulatory and Compliance
Andrew Schaffer, MD
Resident Physician
Featured Anesthesiology Department Members Archive
York Jiao, MD
Director of Anesthesia, Shriners Hospitals for Children St. Louis
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: January 2021
York is an assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology. He was born in China and grew up in Connecticut. He studied Biomedical Engineering as an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis and completed medical school and residency at the University of Connecticut before returning to St. Louis. York is the Director of Anesthesia at Shriners Hospitals for Children St. Louis and is also an active member of the acute pain management team at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He has an interest in the application of data science to operational problems in anesthesiology and healthcare. York lives in St. Louis with his wife Tina, an emergency medicine physician, and their 2-year-old son, Dresden.
Jessica Justmann, MD
Director, Pediatric Pain Management; Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2022
Jessica Justmann is an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. She completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation followed by fellowships in adult and pediatric pain management at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She treats both pediatric and adult patients with chronic pain conditions, and works to restore their function. In her free time, she spends as much of her time outside as possible hiking and camping with her children, as well as gardening and running. When inside, she sews her own clothes and holds the household record for the highest score in Just Dance.
Muthuraj Kanakaraj, MD, MBBS
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: December 2024
Muthuraj Kanakaraj, MD, MBBS, is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Tirunelveli Medical College in India and completed his anesthesiology training at Madras Medical College, India, and in the United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA) and holds the European Diploma in Intensive Care Medicine (EDIC).
Dr. Kanakaraj worked as an attending anesthesiologist in the UK for four years before joining the faculty at WashU Medicine in 2018. His professional focus is on patient safety, quality improvement, and education. He leads educational initiatives for residents, student nurse anesthetists, and nursing staff. Additionally, he serves as a physician leader for POD-5 and prioritizes patient safety and staff well-being as essential aspects of care.
Outside of work, Dr. Kanakaraj enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. A passionate supporter of Arsenal Football Club, he firmly believes they are destined to win the Premier League.
Evangelos Karanikolas
Clinical Research Coordinator
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: December 2023
Evangelos is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Anesthesiology, currently involved with the Anesthesiology Control Tower projects and the THRIVE study.
Evangelos was born in St. Louis but grew up in Greece after his family moved overseas. From a young age, he knew he wanted to become a physician, following his father’s footsteps. He studied medicine at the University of Athens School of Medicine and graduated with high honors. Post-graduation, he worked as a primary care physician in the Greek Army for six months. After completing military service, he started collaborating on clinical research projects with the Department of Medicine at the University Hospital of Patras. Wishing to care for patients in remote and underserved areas of Greece, he worked in the emergency department of the General Hospital of Sitia on the island of Crete.
Evangelos joined the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine to pursue his interest in clinical research. In the future, he aspires to pursue residency training in anesthesiology and follow a path in academic medicine.
Outside of work, Evangelos enjoys outdoor running, trying new restaurants, watching movies, and traveling. He is excited to experience the rich culture of St. Louis and explore the city.
Fun fact: Evangelos has three sisters he considers his best friends despite being grumpy about not having a brother growing up.