Profiled

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2022

Jennifer (Jen) is a staffing administrator for the Department of Anesthesiology. She has worked for WashU, and the department, for a little over six years. In her role, Jen works closely with daily schedulers and clinical leaders to ensure that OR staffing and operations run smoothly on a daily basis. She is also the trauma fellowship coordinator for the department, working closely with the trauma anesthesia director for all things trauma.

Jen has two girls, 11 and 7, and a boxer mix, that keep her busy when she’s not working.  She enjoys being outside, attending sporting events, and watching movies.

Department of Anesthesiology APP of the Quarter: June 2024

Emily Ferrara Mandernach is an acute care nurse practitioner who joined the Department of Anesthesiology in July 2022. She graduated from Saint Louis University with her Master of Science in Nursing in December of 2021 where she was awarded the Leadership in Nursing award and Summa Cum Laude for her academic achievements. Prior to starting at Washington University, Emily worked as a critical care nurse in the Surgical, Trauma, and Burn ICU at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Her clinical time in the ICU has fueled her passion for critical care and continues to mold her into a strong and compassionate advanced practice provider. Working for Washington University has provided her with the opportunity to engage in various learning environments, participate in high-intensity interventions, and make vigilant decisions that impact a patient’s hospital journey.

Emily’s contribution to the profession extends beyond the ICU. She is also a clinical instructor at Saint Louis University and teaches nursing students hands-on training and provides real-world guidance. Additionally, Emily works as a contributing author and editor of various nursing exam review books and materials for Springer Publishing Company. She continues to write on topics related to her current cardiovascular expertise. Her dissemination of knowledge to others will continue to impact evidence-based care for cardiovascular patients and exemplifies the role of the nurse practitioner as an expert clinician and educator.

Outside of the hospital, Emily enjoys hiking adventures and traveling with her husband, Josh, visiting her family on the East Coast, cooking, and spending time with her dog, Louie, a Yorkshire Terrier mix.

Emily was named Q2 2024 APP of the Quarter!

Her nominator says, “Emily consistently demonstrates exceptional qualities that make her a standout member of the team. Her kindness, helpfulness, and extensive knowledge base have significantly energized and uplifted our group. She approaches every interaction with genuine warmth and empathy, creating a positive and welcoming environment for both colleagues and patients. Her ability to make everyone feel valued and heard is a testament to her compassionate nature.”

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2020

Bruno was born in Florida and moved to California when he was 11. He completed his undergraduate degrees in Electrical Engineering and Neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles before completing his PhD in Bioengineering and a medical doctorate both at the University of California, San Diego. During his MS4 year, he came to Washington University to complete an away rotation in cardiac anesthesiology during which he was constantly having to explain why someone from California would want to move here. It was the easiest question posed to him; the people and the opportunities in the department are amazing. He recommends an away rotation here to every medical student reading this.

Bruno considers himself fortunate to have matched here, and even more fortunate to serve as a chief resident alongside Hawa Abubakar and Dean Thorsen. He is looking forward to his upcoming fellowships in critical care and adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology, both at WashU. Outside of work, he enjoys home improvement projects (he finished his basement during his CA1 year) and spending time with his wife and 1.5 year old daughter. He and his wife are excited to welcome a son in July.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: February 2020

Jenny is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Pediatric Division. Her role is with the Inpatient Anesthesia and Difficult Airway Services. She loves the opportunity to work with kids and their families while inpatient. She enjoys a wide variety of patients she sees throughout the whole hospital. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her husband, Chris, daughters, Ava and Lucy and dog, Clark. She loves to camp, hike, read, and hang out with friends. She is happy to be in Pediatrics and working with a great group of people!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: December 2025

Lukas is a faculty anesthesiologist and intensivist at WashU Medicine. His practice spans surgical and medical critical care as well as general adult anesthesiology. While his current home base is the surgical, burn, and trauma intensive care unit, he also serves clinically as the Physician Leader for Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA) and maintains a strong interest in multidisciplinary care in the main operating rooms. Strongly committed to education, Lukas is engaged in a variety of department initiatives centered on learner development, most recently assisting in the design and execution of critical care simulation exercises. He is particularly passionate about effective clinical teaching and formative assessment, recognizing these as drivers of excellence in medical training.

Lukas grew up in the Midwest but came to St. Louis via Boston. He completed his anesthesiology and critical care medicine training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was chief resident and served as a member of the thoracic anesthesiology group prior to relocating.

In his past life as a conservatory-level cellist prior to entering medicine, Lukas performed chamber works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Brahms at Carnegie Hall. He and his partner (a saxophonist) remain regulars at St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concerts, chamber music recitals, and local jazz venues.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: August 2025

Amanda is an acute care nurse practitioner in the Department of Anesthesiology with the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Group at WashU Medicine. Before this, she obtained her Bachelor of Nursing at Texas A&M. She spent nine years at the bedside at Mercy Hospital as a registered nurse and then went on to obtain her master's degree at SLU. She is now entering her 18th year of critical care medicine and functions as a provider in the 44ICU, 78ICU and Christian Hospital ICU. There, she is assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients while performing procedures and working besides a team of wonderful colleagues.

Outside of work, she enjoys vacationing, watching sports and exercising while in the company of her wife of 11 years, a 7 year old daughter, and 2 Australian Shepherd puppies.

 

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: August 2022

Jordan McCall, PhD, MPH is an associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and the Center for Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis and WashU Medicine. Jordan leads a multidisciplinary research program aimed at understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the emotional distress associated with stress, chronic pain, and addiction. The long-term goal of the laboratory is to take basic, circuit-level neuroscience research on the noradrenergic system and apply these findings to advance therapeutic options for patients. In practice, this goal is achieved through the development of new neural interfacing technologies through collaborative efforts with materials scientists, chemical and electrical engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, and clinicians.

In addition to his research role, Jordan co-directs a new Keystone Integrated Science Course for the medical school called "Science, Medicine and Societal Effects of Pain" which integrates basic, preclinical pain science with practical experiences in the clinical treatment of pain.

Outside of work, Jordan enjoys quieting his mind by swimming laps and attempting to quiet his home by chasing his three young kids.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: September 2021

Kenya was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up in the Ferguson area and graduated early from McCluer High School.

Inspired by her mother, Kenya enrolled herself into a practical nursing program and became the school's youngest graduate. She discovered her purpose in nursing and found it extremely gratifying. She continued on attaining her BSN from Webster University and MSN from Goldfarb School of Nursing.

Prior to being accepted into the Goldfarb nurse anesthesia program in 2009, she worked for Saint Louis University as a neurosurgery ICU nurse. Soon after starting at Goldfarb, she set her sights on joining the Department of Anesthesiology, which she did in the spring of 2013.

Kenya is married to a St. Louis City firefighter and they share a blended family of three children. Her favorite quote, “Cheer up, it may not be true,” from her late father informs her life outlook. In her spa

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2026

Sherry is the Manager of Clinical Research, Regulatory and Compliance in the Department of Anesthesiology, where she oversees regulatory support for the department’s human subjects research. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and her Master of Science in Clinical Research Management from WashU and has been with the department since 2011. Prior to joining the department, she supported research in the Departments of Oncology and Psychiatry, as well as the Office of Human Research Protection.

Outside of work, Sherry enjoys spending time with her family—her husband, Brian, and their daughter, Claire. Together they love running, working out, hiking, boating, biking, camping, and spending time outdoors. They also enjoy cheering each other on at races and triathlons.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: May 2021

Kyle was born and raised in north St. Louis County before attending the University of Missouri in Columbia for a bachelor's degree in biology and master's in medical sciences - Physician Assistant at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Following his graduation, he joined the department and has been working as a PA at Christian Hospital in the ICU. "I cannot overstate how fortunate I am to work with such a great team in an area of the city that I've called home since I was born." Kyle looks forward to continuing to grow within the department while serving his patients and beginning to precept/teach others. When not at work, Kyle enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his beautiful and supportive wife Cara and their amazing daughter Raelyn. They are currently expecting their second child.