Featured Anesthesiology Members

Department of Anesthesiology APP of the Quarter: June 2021

Melissa graduated with a BSN from the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, in 2011 and obtained her MSN, Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) from the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, in 2020. She has practiced as an RN in the SICU at Northwest Medical Center, Springdale, Arkansas, from 2011-2013 and the CVICU at Washington Regional Medical Center, Fayetteville, from 2013-2020. While at Washington Regional, Melissa served as Nurse Residency Facilitator and Critical Care Coordinator. Melissa joined the APP group in September 2020 and staff in the CTICUs.

Melissa was named the Q2 2021 APP of the Quarter! Her nominator says, “She is highly motivated and took initiative by looking up patients before her shifts and studying at home with any procedures or devices she wasn’t familiar with. You can tell she cares about her patients and is always advocating for them. She also is a great team player, and I know I can always count on her if I need help.”

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: November 2019

Diana received her Masters Degree from Missouri State University and has been serving as chief CRNA at Barnes West County Hospital since 2015. Diana has two children; Cade age 9 and Evie age 7. Diana and her family love to travel the world together and completed a 7 week, 8 country trip across Asia, Australia and Central America. She and her husband, Wayne, recently opened a restaurant in Des Peres. In her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking, playing trivia and watching the Cardinals.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: December 2023

Debra Pulley, MD, is a Professor of Anesthesiology and she has been a member of the Department of Anesthesiology for many years.

Dr. Pulley’s interest in medicine began when she worked as an environmental engineer, managing the proper handling of hazardous waste and learning about the toxic effects of chemicals. After medical school, she chose anesthesiology which led her to WashU!

She has worked in the operating rooms, labor/delivery, and the preoperative clinic CPAP. Dr. Pulley values her coworkers and enjoys the enthusiasm of new learners. Over the years, she has learned to appreciate both the resiliency and frailty of the human body, and has dedicated her career to treating patients during critical periods of their lives.

Dr. Pulley is a Midwesterner at heart but loves traveling to different regions of the country and taking easy hikes to scenic views. She also enjoys being a wife, mother of two, and grandmother to three energetic kids.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: June 2023

Waliah RaKhem is the Senior Research Administrator for the Department of Anesthesiology.  She has been in this role since 2020 and has worked in similar roles within various departments in her 20+ years with the university.  She has a Bachelor of Business from Drake University in Des Moines, IA, a Masters of Nonprofit Management from Washington University and has been a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) since 2015. Waliah is also one of the department’s Equity Champions working with the POWER office.

In her role as Senior Research Administrator, Waliah helps to guide her team’s focus on research grant submissions for the four Research Divisions of Anesthesiology, WUPC, DoCTR, DBR and CCP.  Her and her team work directly with Principal Investigators to ensure that they feel fully supported before, during and after the grant submission process. Being an Equity Champion allows for Waliah to offer her help in furthering the Schools mission in achieving a supportive environment for all who work here. “It’s work that is very close to my heart.”

A native St. Louisan, Waliah currently resides in University City. An avid movie watcher, she enjoys exercising, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends.