Peds Fellows Class of 2019

Residency: University of Connecticut

Medical School: University of New England

“What stood out to me about Washington University is the faculty’s dedication to quality improvement, excellence, and lifelong learning. The program is centered around the fellows’ education and also provides support and mentorship to guide us to our desired career paths.

My academic interests include regional, cardiac, and ambulatory anesthesia. Doing different types of cases every day excites me, and this fellowship gives me that variety. Additionally, the welcoming atmosphere and the mutual respect amongst the staff of St. Louis Children’s Hospital is very reflective of the Midwest which I have come to love.

Saint Louis has a lot to offer when it comes to date nights, live music events, dog parks, and happy hours with the fellows. The highlights of my year so far are taking the train downtown to Cardinals games, going dancing at the Grove, scootering to the zoo, and canoeing in the middle of Forest Park. Each neighborhood in Saint Louis has its own vibe, and there is something here for everyone.”

Residency: Jackson Memorial Hospital

Medical School: Medical College of Georgia

“When I was determining which place to do fellowship, what was paramount for me was finding a program with quality training that would leave me confident that I could handle the rigors of attending life as a pediatric anesthesiologist. I chose Washington University in St. Louis because of the combination of challenging cases and diversity, as well as its positive structural makeup. The program stood out to me as both aggressive and challenging, but at the same time responsive to the needs and desires of the fellows. From the very first interview I felt the warm welcoming vibe given by the staff at WashU as well as the distinct impression that they were not only colleagues, but genuinely enjoyed working together. I knew it would be an excellent training environment.

My academic/clinical interests lie in challenging cases, difficult airway management and access, and regional anesthesia. I'm looking forward to the challenge that awaits after the completion of my training here. I think that my training here will leave me prepared to begin that journey.

My favorite thing about St. Louis (so far) is the discoveries. Coming from the east coast, I was unsure of what Midwest living would entail. St. Louis has far outstripped my expectations.  The more I’ve looked, the more there is to find and love about this city. Whether it is hanging out in the Grove, perusing Cherokee street, or hunting for under-the-radar eateries and restaurants, St. Louis has plenty of fun activities to check out. Forest park is a vast and beautiful hangout spot with free museums, the zoo,  and a plethora of cool events going on all of the time. There is plenty to do here if you are willing to do a little exploring.”

Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Medical School: McGovern Medical School

“I am originally from Lockhart, a small town south of Austin, known as the Barbecue Capital of Texas. I pursued a liberal arts education at Rhodes College where I studied chemistry and art history. I returned to Texas for medical school at UT Houston. Initially, I considered a career in surgery, but quickly realized anesthesia was a better choice. I moved to Nashville to train at Vanderbilt. I was enthralled by my pediatric anesthesia experience and decided to apply for the fellowship ten days into my first rotation. When evaluating fellowship programs, I sought a program that not only offered excellent clinical training but one that would allow time to be academically productive. I also wanted a program that would encourage camaraderie with my co-fellows, but not let me get lost in a crowd. When I interviewed at Washington University in St. Louis, it just felt right. The faculty and staff were incredibly welcoming. I was particularly impressed with the fellowship research weekend in the spring that allows fellows to start thinking about their academic projects prior to fellowship. Now that I have started fellowship, I am thrilled with my decision to train at Washington University in St. Louis/St. Louis Children’s Hospital. I feel confident that upon completion of my fellowship I will be a competent pediatric anesthesiologist. I am passionate about resident education and mentoring trainees. My clinical interests include fetal anesthesia, acute pediatric pain management, and liver transplantation. My husband and I are enjoying our time in St. Louis. There are so many different things to do within a 15 minute drive of our condo. We are quite fond of craft beer and frequent the Schlafly Brewery regularly.”

Residency: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Medical School: University of Illinois at Chicago

“I feel enormously lucky to be part of the SLCH family for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the program emphasizes a good working relationship with the attendings. I love the jovial and supportive nature of all of the pediatric anesthesia attendings. It is rare to go a morning lecture without someone telling a lighthearted joke and the room erupting with smiles. I definitely feel that the program gives priority to the fellows in terms of case experience and procedures, and our program director ensures that our interests in particular areas are met. We are continuously encouraged to excel in research and quality improvement and are provided time outside of the OR to do so. Though pediatric anesthesia has always appealed to me, I did become interested in pain management during residency. As soon as our program director found this out, he put me in contact with several pediatric pain faculty. Ample opportunities to excel in pain research and clinical care were provided. Our pain service provides several regional anesthesia techniques that I never encountered during residency including scalp, erector spinae, superficial cervical nerve, and superzygomatic maxillary nerve blocks. I feel very confident that I will leave fellowship having a strong foundation in perioperative pain management in the pediatric patient. I am a proud Chicagoan, so it is hard for me to admit that I love St. Louis. It has the perks of a trendy city without the annoying crowds or lines. I've been enjoying living in the Central West End which is an easy walk to work, with a lot of surrounding food options. I didn't know many people in St. Louis before moving here, and fortunately the Washington University/SLU area creates a big community of young professionals. It has only been a couple of months since moving here and I'm already considering staying!”