People

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: June 2025

Mary Sommer is a business director in the Department of Anesthesiology, where she oversees reporting services and epic support. She has been with the department for nearly seven years. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Saint Louis University and enjoys applying her problem-solving skills to projects that support the department’s operational success. She has a particular passion for creating data visualizations that drive better business decisions.

Mary loves spending time with her husband and their two children, both of whom attend Missouri State University. She also enjoys reading and taking her dog, Ham, to local parks.

Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine - Pensacola

Department of Anesthesiology FAS Employee of the Quarter: September 2025

Megan Souter is the senior program coordinator for the WashU Medicine Department of Anesthesiology Residency Program. Megan received her Bachelor of Arts from Tabor College followed by almost 10 years of early childhood education experience as a former preschool and Pre-K teacher. Currently, she is responsible for the oversight of an 88-resident program and is C-TAGME certified. During her years as program coordinator, she has worked to streamline processes and revamp various areas of the program. When Megan is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Lilli, and playing board games with friends and family.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2024

Katy has been with the Department of Anesthesiology for 12 years and spent the last 9 as a Pediatric Nurse Anesthetist. She previously earned dual-degrees in Spanish and Latin American Studies. While studying abroad in Guatemala, Katy was invited to join a Rotary International Group in Honduras as an interpreter. On this Medical Mission Trip, an enthusiastic and convincing nurse anesthetist planted the seeds for Katy to consider nursing as a profession, specifically anesthesia. Years later, she realized this dream by becoming a CRNA. Recently, she made it to the Dominican Republic. She was finally able to participate in a surgical service trip as a CRNA!

As an active member of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Katy is currently a PIA SAFE Champion and also a mentor for incoming pediatric hires at St. Louis Children's Hospital. Her involvement on the Pediatric Wellness Committee led to yoga in Forest Park and a well-attended rock-climbing evening at Upper Limits. Katy also enjoys keeping up and discussing books with fellow book club members in the peds division. Katy was previously engaged as a Peer Advocate for the Peri-Operative Space.

Outside of work, Katy enjoys yoga, fitness, outdoor adventuring, reading and nutritious food! She is also active in raising her three children (ages 9, 11, and 13). She enjoys supporting them in their activities, interests, and school communities. Fun Fact: As an exchange student, Katy visited so many countries she ran out of pages in her passport!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: December 2019

Bob is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in the department. He graduated from the Barnes Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia in 1978 and has over 41 years of service in his profession. He is laying down his “tools of the trade” and retiring at the end of December. After retirement, Bob plans to keep busy with family and friends, cooking and barbequing, driving his Porsche Boxster, playing with his Airedale Terrier, Piper, landscaping and working around his home, traveling, reading, and finishing his wife’s “to do” list. He may even take up his first passion again, art, in the form of drawing, painting, and sculpting. Bob would like to thank his many friends and colleagues in the department for putting up with the “Old Guy” all these years!