Irakli Shengelia

Irakli Shengelia

Physician assistant

Irakli Shengelia was born in Republic of Georgia, then part of USSR. He served in the Soviet Army as a medic and after his service he attended Tbilisi State Medical University where he studied medicine. He immigrated to the United States in 1993 before completing his studies. After arriving in the US, 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 program at Excelsior College in Albany NY and then his bachelor of science in liberal studies at the same college. As a nurse he worked in multiple areas including IV therapy, stepdown unit, ICU, ER, and OR gaining vast knowledge and experience.

In 2005 he was accepted to Saint Louis University Physician Assistant Program which he successfully completed in 2008. He joined the Washington University Department of Anesthesia in 2014 and he has been working with the division of critical care while caring for critically ill patients across many units and hospitals within BJC system.

He always says that he is” looking forward to go to work,” but he also looks forward to going home where he can spend time with his family. He has been married to Rebecca for 25 years (they met in nursing school) and they have three sons, Nikolas, David, and Maximus. David was recently accepted to Butler University Physician Assistant program, following his father’s footsteps.

Irakli’s hobbies include playing soccer, listening to music, reading, and spending time with friends and family.