People

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Michigan State University

Department of Anesthesiology APP of the Quarter: December 2024

Holly Brooks, ACNP, has been nominated as the Q4 2024 APP of the Quarter for her outstanding dedication, compassion, and leadership. Holly’s unwavering commitment to her team, patients, and their families is truly inspiring. Holly's nominator says that she goes above and beyond in every aspect of her work, creating a supportive and collaborative environment while consistently demonstrating excellence in patient care. Her positive energy, advocacy, and ability to connect with others make her an invaluable asset to the team and a shining example of what it means to lead with both heart and skill. Congratulations, Holly!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: June 2025

Aaron (AJ) Brown is a nurse practitioner and valued member of the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) group in the Department of Anesthesiology. He has been with the department since January 2019, following his graduation from St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences in Kansas City with a degree as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP).

Before joining the APP group, AJ gained experience in a variety of clinical settings, including the neurosurgical service at OSF St. Francis in Peoria, Illinois, and the CVICUs at St. Luke’s in Kansas City and SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Over time, he has found his passion in working with community ICUs, particularly at Progress West Hospital. He values the dedicated, hands-on time with patients and the opportunity to serve his local community.

Outside of work, AJ enjoys spending time with his family, experimenting with his BBQ smoker, and chasing his ever-evolving golf goals.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2024

Bobbie Brown is a graduate student in the DBBS program, training under Dr. Rob Gereau and Dr. Bryan Copits. Bobbie moved from her hometown Little Rock, Arkansas, to St. Louis to begin her undergraduate studies at WashU in 2013. Throughout undergrad, she researched voltage-gated potassium channels with Dr. Larry Salkoff and Dr. Celia Santi. In 2017, she earned her bachelor's degree in physics.

For her graduate research, Bobbie is working on optogenetic tool development. Optogenetics involves the use of light-sensitive proteins (opsins) that allow for light-mediated modulation of cellular processes; her research is focused on using opsins to regulate neuronal activity. Along with research, she has helped teach undergraduate classes including "Molecular Biology of Genetic Disorders," "Neurophysiology Lab," and "Biophysics of Consciousness." Bobbie is also involved with leadership in the department's ASSURE summer research program.

Outside of the lab, Bobbie enjoys listening to music, playing instruments, exploring outdoors, watching scary movies, teaching (or attempting to teach) her cat Momo to walk on a leash, watching basketball, facilitating local queer-Christian community, discovering new personal allergies, and architectural photography.

Medical School: Florida State University
Internship: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri