Featured Anesthesiology Members

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: September 2019

Jazmynn is an Accounting/Purchasing Assistant II in the business office. She joined the Department in July 2018 and has a bachelor’s degree from UMSL in business administration. Jazmynn has over 6 years of experience in the finance industry, and outside of work, she likes to read memoirs and binge watch Netflix series and stand up comedy shows.

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.

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!

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.