Peers in Anesthesiology Supporting a Fair Environment (PIA SAFE) is a peer-based program in the Department of Anesthesiology aimed to help address concerns about negative behaviors, conflicts, and microaggressions experienced by members of the department.
Our department is continually working toward building a positive and safe culture that creates an environment in which everyone can thrive and actualize their potential.
In collaboration with the university-wide SAFE program, our department will further curate content and training to assure our members champion positive culture in all areas.
Upcoming Events
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22 Apr
Read our PIA SAFE Newsletters
PIA SAFE Champions
PIA SAFE Champions are available to provide guidance and counsel for those wishing to speak to someone following a conflict, not to report concerns of mistreatment or unprofessional behavior. To report a concern, please utilize the School of Medicine’s Safe Reporting program.
| Heather Acuff, PGY-3 Resident | Ryan Lee, PGY-4 Resident |
| Michael Avidan, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology | Andrea Liefer, Chief Pediatric CRNA |
| Kara Bockius, Fellowship Coordinator, Critical Care | Herman Luther, PGY-3 Resident |
| Kelly Chilson, Associate Professor, Pediatric Anesthesiology | Bruno Maranhao, Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine |
| Meaghan Creed, Assistant Professor, Washington University Pain Center | Scott Markowitz, Vice-Chair for Professional Development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion |
| Anne DeSchryver, Director of Business Operations | Allison Mitchell, Residency Program Director |
| Avi Dobrusin, PGY-3 Resident | Dolores Njoku, Division Chief of Pediatric Anesthesiology |
| Cat Foster, Instructor, General Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine | Uchenna Ofoma, Director of Christian Hospital ICU |
| Robert Gereau IV, Vice Chair for Research; Director of the Washington University Pain Center | Todd Rackohn, PGY-4 Resident |
| Natasha Goodwin, CRNA, Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital | Rashmi Rathor, Assistant Professor, General Anesthesia |
| Hanna Graczyk, Clinical Operations Assistant | Clare Ridley, Director of the Surgical COVID ICU; Assistant Director in the Cardiothoracic ICU |
| Mike Havenar, Compliance and Outreach Lead Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care | Furqaan Sadiq, Clinical Fellow, Critical Care |
| Erin Herrera, Assistant Director for CRNA Activities, Associate Vice Chair of Well-Being | Jessica Sanford, Instructor, Anesthesiology |
| Rocco Hueneke, Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology | Elvira Sayfutdinova, CRNA, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital |
| Cathy Ifune, Associate Professor, General Anesthesia | Manjaap Sidhu, PGY-4 Resident |
| Kirin Khan, PGY-3 Resident | Parita Sutaria, PGY-2 Resident |
| Joe Kras, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology | Douglas Thompson, Vice Chair for Education |
| Rainier Kentner, Instructor, Anesthesiology | Brandon White, PGY-3 Resident |
| Chris Lee, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology |
FAQs
PIA SAFE Champions are individuals who possess the motivation, skills, knowledge, and courage to be a catalyst for cultural change!
- PIA SAFE champions are foremost a resource and ally for colleagues.
- They are here to listen, support, and guide you should you have a concern or need help.
- They are trained in tools and techniques to be an upstander. They are able to constructively intervene and support colleagues who experience or witness bullying, abuse, microaggressions, and other events that erode the psychological safety of our institution.
- They are trained in providing feedback to support the success and continual growth of our team members
- They are educated in the systems and resources offered by the university and department for additional methods of support.
There are two ways to connect with a Champion:
- contact Erin Herrera, who will assign a Champion to you, or
- contact a Champion above
We know everyone is busy, so our goal for PIA SAFE training is to maximize impact for your time commitment. Much of our training, exercises, and outreach can be done on your own time.
PIA SAFE training begins with 10 weeks of short weekly engagement exercises. These only take a few minutes to complete but provide you with skills, education, and exercises to get you thinking.
At the end of the 10 weeks, we will have an in-person retreat where we come together with other PIA SAFE champions to practice skills and learn more about feedback and upstanding
After your retreat, you will receive a monthly newsletter with updates, tips, and further engagement activities, events, and strategies.
Complete the form below if you’re interested in becoming a PIA SAFE Champion!
Join PIA SAFE
Are you interested in joining PIA SAFE to address mistreatment and unprofessional behaviors in the learning environment?
We encourage all who want to champion positive change within our department to become PIA SAFE champions. As a PIA SAFE Champion we will provide you with hands-on, in-person training in the following areas;
- Listening skills & navigating difficult conversations
- Bystander & feedback training
- Recognizing and addressing microaggressions/microinvalidations/ misclassifications and bias
- Recognizing and verbalizing positive behavior to reinforce expectations