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
Andrew Griesbaum, ACNP
Nurse Practitioner
Qin Liu, PhD
Professor of Anesthesiology
Jake Meinkoth
Clinical Informaticist
Sydney Tyler, MD
Resident Physician
Featured Anesthesiology Department Members Archive
Hilary Odorizzi, DNP, CRNA
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: October 2019
Hilary earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Baylor College of Medicine. Her research project focus was on “Emotional Intelligence in Nurse Anesthesia Practice.” She enjoys wine and travel, aspires to be a foodie, and loves being an aunt.
Uchenna Ofoma, MD, MS
Associate Professor, Anesthesiology
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: November 2019
Uchenna (Uche for short) jokingly refers to himself as “medical diplomat”, having received medical training that spans several continents. Uche obtained his primary medical degree from the University of Nigeria and holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research from Pennsylvania State University. He is trained in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Multispecialty Critical Care. He is an Associate Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Uche’s health services research studies health system-level and geographic variations in outcomes for critically ill patients. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, watching soccer, discussing current world affairs, and spending time with his wife and three kids.
Seantika Oliver
Accounting and Purchasing Assistant II
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2023
Seantika joined WashU and the Department of Anesthesiology in August 2019. She is part of the research administration team as an accounting clerk for purchasing where she submits travel reports for PI’s, pays invoices, creates and approves orders, and handles day-by-day expenses for labs. Before joining WashU, Tika worked as a customer service manager and accountant for Walmart for five years while attending school at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL.
As a child, Seantika was born with a rare spine disorder and club foot, and she had to undergo over 20 surgeries before the age of 15. She uses a wheelchair to get around outside of her home for long distances and to support her spine. Despite this, she recently bought a car where she has hand controls installed for more freedom and independence!
Seantika is currently enrolled as a part-time student at WashU working toward a certification in Clinical Research Management. This past fall semester, she finished a financial accounting class to better develop her skills and knowledge of her current position in purchasing. In her free time, Tika loves perfecting her cosmetology skills as a makeup artist and she enjoys watching suspenseful series and movies on Netflix. She also enjoys home decorating for her new house in O’fallon, IL!
Arvind Palanisamy, MD, FRCA
Chief, Obstetric Anesthesiology; Professor, Anesthesiology
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: July 2019
Arvind is the Division Chief and Professor of Obstetric Anesthesiology. Dr. Palanisamy completed his anesthesiology residency at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India followed by the FRCA degree from the Royal College of Anaesthetists in London. His current research interest is to understand the impact of maternal exposure to drugs (anesthetic agents, oxytocin) on fetal neurodevelopment. Though not an avowed omphaloskeptic, Dr. Palanisamy enjoys meditation, mindfulness, and a profound curiosity for all things under the sun and beyond.