The Department of Anesthesiology is proud to recognize five of its Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) who have been named finalists for the March of Dimes Heroes in Action 2026 awards.
The Heroes in Action program celebrates nursing professionals who make a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients and communities. Finalists are selected across multiple categories, with an awards event in November honoring their contributions to nursing and health care.
“These finalists reflect the dedication, expertise and compassion that define exceptional patient care,” said Padma Gulur, MD, head of the Department of Anesthesiology. “Their recognition speaks to the important role our advanced practice providers play in caring for patients, supporting their colleagues and strengthening the communities we serve. We are proud to see their contributions celebrated.”
Please join us in congratulating our finalists:
Advanced Practice – Critical Care
Josh Fender, MSN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, CNL, NREMT-P
Nurse Practitioner
Josh has served as an advanced practice provider at WashU Medicine since 2021, bringing a background in paramedicine, critical care and nursing leadership to his role. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Fire Paramedicine from Lindenwood University before completing his Master of Science in Nursing at Saint Louis University, with an emphasis on quality improvement informatics, education and leadership. He completed his post-master’s certificate in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care at Goldfarb School of Nursing. Josh has been recognized with St. Louis Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing award and the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year award. Currently, Josh splits his time between the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Department of Surgery) and the Division of Critical Care Medicine (Department of Anesthesiology).
Sarah Jaber, DNP, AGACNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Sarah has served as a critical care nurse practitioner at WashU Medicine for over a decade, bringing extensive clinical expertise to her role. She began her nursing career in 2006 after earning her Associate of Science in Nursing from Goldfarb School of Nursing, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008. Sarah completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP) in 2015 and joined WashU Medicine as a nurse practitioner in surgical critical care the same year. In 2022, she earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), further advancing her leadership and clinical impact.
Amber Lewis, ACNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Amber joined WashU Medicine in 2013 after earning her MSN, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree from Goldfarb School of Nursing. She spent six years working as an APP Lead in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) and now serves at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in the Cardiovascular Recovery Intensive Care Unit (CVR). She is committed to providing excellent patient care while fostering a healthy, supportive and sustainable work environment.
Education
Sarah Perez, DNP, CRNA
Assistant Program Director, Nurse Anesthesia Program
Sarah began her academic career at WashU, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. She went on to earn a Master of Science from DePaul University, a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in nurse anesthesia from Barnes-Jewish College, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chatham University. During her 18 years with the Department of Anesthesiology, she has practiced primarily as a CRNA at the Center for Advanced Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital while developing a parallel career in nurse anesthesia education. Since joining the faculty at Barnes-Jewish College in 2011, Sarah has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to educating, and mentoring future nurse anesthetists and advancing nurse anesthesia scholarship. She currently serves as Associate Professor and Assistant Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program, with key responsibilities in program administration, clinical scheduling, student mentorship, and instruction. Her teaching focuses on board preparation and the foundational sciences of chemistry, physics, physiology, and pathophysiology.
Healthcare and Support Partners
Sean Miller, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Sean brings 18 years of experience in medicine to his role at WashU Medicine, where he joined the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) in 2023. He began his career as a paramedic, including two years in critical care pediatric transport at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, before earning his Master of Medical Science degree from Saint Louis University’s Physician Assistant Program in 2014. After gaining experience in primary care, emergency medicine and urgent care, Sean completed an advanced practice provider fellowship. In addition to his clinical work, he serves as an adjunct faculty member at Saint Louis University, teaching EKG analysis and other medical topics. He also founded Rapid Med Ed, LLC, a St. Louis-based training organization offering American Heart Association provider courses and CPR/First Aid training.