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
Benjamin A. Sanofsky, MD, MS Ed
Instructor, Anesthesiology
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: October 2024
Ben is a pediatric anesthesiologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Shriners Children’s St. Louis. Originally from Ohio, Ben moved east to attend Colgate University, where he majored in music. After college, he taught middle school in NYC through Teach for America and interned at the Institute of Music and Neurologic Function, where he was inspired to pursue a medical career that blended his love for music with helping kids.
At WashU Medicine, Ben is the principal investigator of the DEAP Music Trial, a multi-center study examining the use of personalized music to reduce emergence agitation in pediatric patients. He is completing a master’s degree in clinical investigation with the hope of developing a collaborative research consortium focused on music and pediatric medicine. He also helped launch the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology’s infant spinal anesthesia program.
Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, wrestling his dog, making music, and hanging out with his U. City neighbors. He’s also an enthusiastic bike commuter who dreams of one day being able to change a flat tire without needing moral support.
Elvira Sayfutdinova, MSN, CRNA
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: August 2023
Elvira Sayfutdinova, MSN, CRNA, was born and raised in Kazan, Russia. Before immigrating to the U.S. in 2011, she majored in English and Chinese for three years with the goal of becoming a translator. Her initial plan was to come to the U.S. for three months to improve her English and then go back to Russia to finish her education. A 19-year-old Elvira landed in Newark airport and got her first job on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. After three months, she decided to stay in America and moved to St. Louis to continue her undergraduate education. Elvira changed her major and earned her BSN in Nursing from Maryville University in 2016. She worked at St. Joseph’s Health Center in St. Charles as an ICU nurse before pursuing her career in anesthesiology. Elvira earned her MSN in Nurse Anesthesia at Goldfarb School of Nursing in 2020. She has been practicing as a CRNA with the Department of Anesthesiology since February of 2021. Her educational and clinical interests include adult and pediatric anesthesiology. Elvira practices at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Barnes Jewish Hospital, and Children’s Specialty Care Centers. Outside of her clinical duties, Elvira co-directs the WashU CRNA Mentorship Program. She is passionate about health and wellness, longevity, and lifelong learning. When not at work, you can find Elvira at the gym or traveling to a new destination!
Andrew Schaffer, MD
Resident Physician
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2026
Dr. Schaffer moved frequently while growing up, relocating nine times before spending most of high school in San Antonio, TX. In 2014, he moved to St. Louis, where he played soccer for the WashU Bears and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry. He later went on to earn his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing soccer, reading, history, and spending time with his wife and dog. He plans to pursue a critical care fellowship after residency and hopes to remain in St. Louis for training before fulfilling his service commitment with the U.S. Navy through the Health Professions Scholarship Program.
Elizabeth Schappe, CRNA
POD 1 CRNA Leader
Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: June 2024
Elizabeth joined the Department of Anesthesia in 2017 after graduating from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville with her master’s degree in anesthesia. Elizabeth is currently a pod leader in Parkview Tower and part of the OB anesthesia team. In addition to her clinical roles, Elizabeth is part of the anesthesia Green Team. The Green Team promotes sustainable anesthesia practices which reduce waste and carbon emissions.
Though Elizabeth was born in Germany, and grew up in Iowa, she attended high school in St. Louis, and thus, considers herself a true St. Louisan. She currently lives in Webster Groves with her husband and their three children. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her family. On her most recent hike in the Smokey Mountains she saw four black bears!