The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) group is a dynamic, talented, and diverse team of board-certified acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) and physician assistants (PAs) dedicated to providing high-quality, person-centered, compassionate care.
Each quarter, we recognize one of our APPs who has gone above and beyond for their team and patients.
Congratulations to our APP of the Quarter, Irakli Shengelia!
Physician Assistant
Irakli Shengelia was born in Georgia when it was part of the USSR. After graduating from secondary school, he served in the Soviet Army as a medic prior to attending Tbilisi State Medical University where he studied medicine. He immigrated to the United States in 1993 before completing his studies. After arriving in the U.S., he enrolled in a nursing program at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa, where he received his LPN diploma in 1996. In 2002 he completed an Associate Degree in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in liberal studies at Excelsior College in Albany, NY. As a nurse, he worked in multiple areas including IV therapy, stepdown units, ICU, ER, and OR, gaining vast knowledge and experience.
In 2005 he was accepted to the Saint Louis University Physician Assistant Program which he successfully completed in 2008. As a Physician Assistant he worked at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in Critical Care and Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants, Inc. He joined the WashU Medicine Department of Anesthesiology in 2014, and he has been working with the Division of Critical Care Medicine while caring for critically ill patients across many units and hospitals within BJC system. Currently, he spends most of his time at Christian Hospital Northeast and Progress West Hospital.
Irakli is very grateful for the opportunity to work with amazing people while doing something he loves. Every day after work he looks forward to going home where he can spend time with his family. He has been married to Rebecca for 30 years. He is a proud father to three sons and a proud grandfather to one grandson.
Irakli’s hobbies include international travel, playing soccer, chess, piano, listening to music, reading, and spending time with friends and family while sampling good food and wine.
Irakli was named APP of the Quarter in September 2026. Here is what his nominator had to say:
“Irakli did an exceptional job caring for a critically ill patient whose condition continued to deteriorate despite aggressive treatment. His thorough bedside ultrasound helped identify previously unrecognized intra-abdominal bleeding, a finding later supported by a significant drop in hemoglobin and escalating vasopressor requirements. Just as importantly, Irakli approached the patient’s family with thoughtfulness and compassion, helping guide a difficult conversation about transitioning to comfort-focused care. Because of his clinical judgment and compassionate care, the patient was able to spend meaningful time with family and ultimately pass away peacefully that evening.”
Congratulations, Irakli, on this department achievement!
View previous awardees
Teresa Hammann, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Department of Anesthesiology APP of the Quarter: April 2021
Teresa was born and raised in St. Louis, MO and joined the department in 2016 after graduating from the ACNP program at Saint Louis University. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, she was a bedside nurse in the emergency department and cardiothoracic ICU at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Outside of work, Teresa enjoys spending time with her husband Brett and their boxer, Shirley. She also enjoys travelling, cooking, SCUBA diving, reading, and spending time outdoors running, hiking, kayaking, camping, and gardening
“I feel blessed to have been chosen to be part of the SICU APP group as my first job out of school. I enjoy the fast paced environment and have an amazing group of co-workers that have helped me learn and grow in my profession!”
Teresa was named the Q1 2021 APP of the Quarter! She is always attentive to the staff and patient needs and is a great resource to have on our care team! Congratulations, Teresa!
Becki Loveless, PA
Physician Assistant
Department of Anesthesiology APP of the Quarter: January 2021
Becki Loveless, PA-C graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2000. She has worked in a variety of fields including orthopedics, emergency medicine, CT surgery, and most recently made the transition to critical care in July 2019. She currently works in the CTICU at BJH and in the ED at Missouri Baptist.
Becki has been active in both state and national PA organizations, currently serving as the HOD representative for MoAPA at the national AAPA conference. In addition, she has traveled throughout the country as a lecturer for the AAPA on responsible prescribing of opioids as well as the opioid epidemic. Becki was honored with the designation of Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA for outstanding dedication and achievement in the PA profession in 2015. In her free time, she spends time being a sports mom for her two boys and traveling the world when there isn’t a pandemic going on.
Becki was named the Q4 2020 APP of the Quarter! She has been in the COVID-19 unit working nights for many months without a break. She has been a wonderful resource to her colleagues regarding caring for ECMO patients, and she consistently recognizes and helps out her team when others are overwhelmed with their workloads.
Kathleen Carlsen, PA
Physician Assistant
Department of Anesthesiology APP of the Quarter: October 2020
Kathleen has been a Physician Assistant in the Surgical ICU at Barnes/Washington University since 2017. Originally from Sacramento, California, Kathleen lived in the Bay Area of California for six years to complete her undergraduate degree at Santa Clara University and then worked as an EMT. She then moved to St. Louis in 2014 to start her Physician Assistant program at Saint Louis University. She quickly fell in love with St. Louis and it’s Midwest feel (without the up-North winters) and began working at Washington University soon after gaining her Physician Assistant Master of Medical Science degree.
The Surgical ICU has been the perfect job for Kathleen as she loves to stay busy and work in a fast paced environment. Her co-workers are amazingly supportive and have truly become close friends. She appreciates the challenges that her patients’ present and has enjoyed occasionally working at Christian Hospital Northeast whenever needed, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kathleen, her boyfriend (Jeremy) and Jack Russell (Maggie) live in the Central West End and love eating, drinking and playing through the city. She especially loves to spend her free time biking (road and mountain biking), golfing (poorly), going to concerts and having get-togethers with friends and family. She’s never met a party she didn’t want to host! Fun fact: even though she grew up in California, she only cheers for Michigan sports since her parents are both Michiganders. Go Blue!!
Kathleen was named the Q3 2020 APP of the Quarter because she is an excellent team player and a creative problem-solver who is dedicated to delivering high-quality patient care.
Patricia Wilkinson, ACNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Department of Anesthesiology APP of the Quarter: September 2019
Trish graduated from the ACNP program at Saint Louis University and joined the department in 2012 and is one of the Leadership APP’s for 44ICU and 78ICU. In addition to her work in the Department of Anesthesiology, she serves in the Air Force Reserve at Scott Air Force Base. Her dog, Lexi, is certified as a therapy dog and Trish enjoys patient and staff visits with her. For fun, Trish enjoys traveling and hiking and is looking forward to an upcoming vacation to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.
Trish was named the Q2 2020 APP of the Quarter! She is an involved leader with excellent clinical skills. Trish is a very dependable, dedicated, and valued member of our group. Congratulations, Trish!