People

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2024

Nathan is a CA-1 resident in the Department of Anesthesiology. He was born in Chicago, but spent most of his life in New Jersey. He attended Franklin and Marshall College where he majored in neuroscience and art history. He was always interested in pursuing medicine, but a research project in childhood genetic disorders motivated him to also pursue a career in research. He worked for two years at the NIH studying metabolic disorders in children, which solidified his interest in medicine and research. He joined the MSTP program at Baylor College of Medicine and completed his PhD in developmental biology. At Baylor, he met his amazing wife, Emily (who is now a second year heme/onc fellow at WashU). Together, they are raising three wonderful kids and two adorable cats.

Nathan loves living in St. Louis! The city is very affordable and has a plethora of activities for both adults and kids. Nathan enjoys cooking, running, listening to heavy metal, and spending time with family. A fun fact about Nathan is that he did parkour in college and ran two marathons, one completely barefoot.

Nathan intends on pursuing a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology. He wants to combine his interest in pediatric anesthesia with his interest in genetic disorders, as these patients often have unique anesthetic considerations during surgery.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

* WU Scholar

Medical School: Oakland University

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Residency: Loyola University Medical Center

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: July 2025

Titi (they/them pronouns) is from Yorubaland (Ondo, Nigeria) and is currently a PhD student in the molecular genetics & genomics program. Before coming to WashU Medicine, Titi graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Georgia State University. During their undergrad career, they mostly focused on computational neuroscience but became interested in genomics and its applications to precision medicine through a SURP at Medical University of South Carolina. This interest was further developed through the OGR program at MGI where they narrowed down their interest to the genetic etiology of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. They are co-mentored by Drs. Joe Dougherty and Meaghan Creed on a collaborative project focused on exploring the epigenetic and transcriptomic landscape of ventral pallidum cells in the context of opioid self-administration mouse models. In their free time, they love community organizing, exploring the local culinary and music scenes, working as a harm reduction consultant at UMSL-MIMH's Addiction Science Team, dreaming of becoming a DJ on the side, taking nature walks, and cuddling with their cat.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: February 2022

Zekeriyya (aka Zek) was born and raised in Ankara, Turkey. He attended Medical School of Ankara University where he obtained his MD degree. He joined Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation of Ankara University for his Anesthesia training. He joined the same department as a Specialist in Anesthesia in 2000. Zek specialized in different clinical work and studies in solid organ transplantation, airway management and teaching-assessment in Anesthesia training. He obtained his board certifications from Turkish Anesthesiology and Reanimation Society and European Society of Anesthesiology (ESA) in 2005 and 2006, respectively. He contributed to the ESA as Examination Committee Member and Council member starting 2008 till 2017. He hosted Part I and Online Assessment of European Board Exam in Ankara for many years, translated the exam into Turkish, wrote and reviewed exam content, examined as an examiner and senior examiner for Part II exam all around different exam center in Europe. He is still contributing to the ESA and Turkish Board mission as an examiner for online oral board exams. He served at the University of Ankara as an Associate and afterward as a Full Professor for more than 12 years. He was appointed as the Co-Director of the Cebeci Hospital of Ankara University and served almost 6.5 years till he departed for WashU in 2018. He officially retired from his position at the Ankara University in the summer of 2020 after serving 25 years.

Zek’s involvement with WashU goes back to 2007/2008. He joined the International Specialist program at WashU in 2007 but returned to Turkey in 2008. He and his family never forgot their time, friends and great memories in St. Louis and returned to St. Louis in 2018. It was of course very attractive to work again for WashU for many reasons, including the outstanding opportunity to watch live St. Louis Cardinals games with his youngest son at baseball heaven, Busch Stadium.

Zek played basketball for many years and still enjoys watching the sport. He also supports his hometown soccer team, AnkaraGucu, by hanging its flag on the main entrance of his home, enjoys his free time with his family of two young gentlemen and his wife, Betul. The Alanoglu family always misses their beloved daughter who lives in Turkey and studies Psychology.