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
Lisa Parks
Division Administrator of Clinical Operations
Department of Anesthesiology – FAS Employee of the Quarter: September 2024
Lisa began working at WashU Medicine in 2017 as the Executive Secretary for the Chief of the Division of General Anesthesiology. This marked a significant career shift after a 35-year tenure in banking, where she held a middle management role overseeing 150 bank branches across three states. Seeking a new challenge where she could rely more on her individual contributions, she transitioned into academia. Over the past seven years, Lisa has immersed herself in both the academic and clinical environments, finding the experience both challenging and rewarding as she continues to learn each day.
As the Division Administrator of Clinical Operations, Lisa oversees and supports the administrative staff working with the General, CT, Trauma, and Regional divisions, as well as the Directors of Clinical Operations. Additionally, she serves as the International Specialist for these divisions, collaborating closely with the HR Visa team to onboard international faculty and assisting visitors who wish to observe procedures in the ORs. Her role is centered on helping clinicians by minimizing their administrative burdens, allowing them to focus on their expertise.
On the personal side, Lisa has two children, a bonus son, and three grandchildren. Consistency has been a hallmark of her life—she has been married for 41 years and has lived in the same home for 39 of those years. She and her husband also built a two-bedroom cabin on 40 acres near Rolla, Missouri, which they frequent on weekends. Lisa treasures time spent with her local grandchildren, who live just 10 minutes away, although she wishes the others lived closer.
Lisa feels honored to be chosen as Employee of the Quarter and is grateful for the recognition.
Yolanda Parsons
Grant Specialist II
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: July 2021
Yolanda joined the research division as a grant specialist II in September, 2020. She assists with the pre- and post-award grant application process. The mother of two received her Masters in higher education from Saint Louis University, where she also worked as a financial specialist for over 15+ years. Outside of work, Yolanda loves writing about the “what-if’s” of life and hopes to see her work on The New York Times Best Sellers list.
Aashay Patel, MD
Resident Physician, Class of 2026
Ruchik Patel, MD
Resident Physician, Class of 2023
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: August 2020
Ruchik is a current CA-1 resident and was born in Chicago and grew up in Naperville, Illinois. He studied genetics, healthcare management, and American Culture here at Washington University. He received his MD from New York Medical College, where he concentrated in patient safety and quality improvement. In addition to joining a diverse and supportive academic department, he moved back from midtown Manhattan to St. Louis for residency knowing that he still had access to his favorite things: a large park, Whole Foods, and live music. In his free time he loves to eat pastries… and then run them off.