Profiled

Jake is a Clinical Informaticist within the Department of Anesthesiology, where he has served since May 2023.

He earned his undergraduate degree in marketing and advertising from Webster University, and a Master of Science in Geographic Information Science from Northwest Missouri State University.

Outside of work, Jake enjoys cooking, traveling, photography, playing golf, and spending time with his wife a daughter.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: November 2022

Julia has been a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) with the Department of Anesthesia for over two years. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Saint Louis University (SLU), while also playing on the SLU Women’s Soccer team. Additionally, while in nursing school Julia tutored anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology for nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, and pre-med students. After receiving her BSN, Julia worked in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital, as well as caring for patients perioperatively with the St. Louis Pain Consultants at the Mid America Spine Center.

Julia received her Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, (DNAP) at Missouri State University School of Anesthesia in Springfield, Missouri. While in CRNA school, she was a recipient of The Crabtree Family Nurse Anesthesia Scholarship, which is awarded to students that represent excellence and outstanding achievements in anesthesia. At Missouri State, Julia completed her capstone and doctorate studies focusing on multimodal approaches to pain management. She was chosen to present her capstone and dissertation at the Missouri Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MOANA) Conference to Missouri CRNAs and SRNAs.

Currently, Julia works in the CRNA float pool and practices anesthesia throughout all the PODs on both south and north campuses at BJH and BJWC. She recently joined the WashU OB team and expanded her practice into labor and delivery.

Julia has always had a passion for teaching and sharing knowledge, which is one of the main reasons she chose to be a member of WashU's Anesthesia Department. She loves the teaching facility and enjoys precepting and working with SRNAs and residents, as well as being a part of a team focused on research and evidence-based practice.

Julia was born and raised in St. Louis. She has five siblings (four sisters and one brother) and is a loving aunt to her four nephews and niece. In her free time, Julia enjoys reading, running, hiking, walking her dog, and spending time with friends and family. You can find her enjoying Italian cuisine on the Hill or at her favorite ice cream spot, Ted Drewes.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: May 2022

Melissa Milbrandt is the business manager for the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology and the Division of Perioperative Medicine. She's been with the department for three great years. Melissa is a St. Louis native and completed her undergraduate degree at WashU. After completing an administrative fellowship in Denver following graduate school, she decided to return home to WashU and join the department of Anesthesiology.

In her current role, Melissa is responsible for providing business and operational leadership for her divisions, including strategic planning and financial and operations management, and supporting the development of people, programs, and initiatives. Melissa feels very lucky to work with outstanding clinicians and staff in both divisions and throughout the department of Anesthesiology. She loves to spend time with her family and friends in her free time, travel, and be active, especially to be out of doors with her Brittany Spaniel, Tillie.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: December 2024

Ben is an intern anesthesiology resident in the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine. A Minnesota native, he grew up playing baseball and video games. Ben completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota and earned his MD from Rosalind Franklin University.

An avid fitness enthusiast, Ben stays active through weightlifting, rock climbing, and running around Forest Park.

Outside of work, he enjoys listening to live music, hunting for hidden treasures at thrift stores and estate sales, and spending time with his cat, Carl. Fun fact: Ben was in the top 0.01% of Jim Croce listeners in 2024.

Department of Anesthesiology - APP of the Quarter: January 2024

Sean Miller has been working in medicine for the past 18 years. He began working as a Paramedic for both rural and suburban EMS districts. He spent two years of his EMS career with a focus on critical care pediatric transport with St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He later entered St. Louis University's Physician Assistant Program where he earned his Master of Medical Science (MMS) degree in 2014.

He first gained experience as a PA in primary care outpatient medicine but later transitioned to the ER. He completed an ER fellowship and remained with the ER for additional training. After completing his ER training, he entered Urgent Care medicine where he has spent the bulk of his career. Most recently, Sean’s drive for professional growth allowed him to begin work at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in the Cardiothoracic ICU. When not working at WashU he returns to SLU as an Adjunct Faculty member providing lectures in EKG analysis while co-managing the orthopedic, cardiac, and GU/Renal modules. In 2023, he began operating Rapid Med Ed, LLC, which is a St. Louis-based training organization for all AHA courses and much more. He and his wife have 3 growing boys ages 10, 8, and 6. They all enjoy playing UNO and traveling to the beach for much-needed relaxation. Fun fact, he has enjoyed Martial Arts for over 25 years and currently holds a 4th degree black belt!

Sean was named Q4 2023 APP of the Quarter!

His nominator says, "Sean undeniably deserves the APP of the quarter award for his relentless commitment to personal growth and improvement. He consistently strives to enhance his skills and knowledge, demonstrating a remarkable dedication to self-betterment. Sean's infectious smile has become a symbol of positivity within the group, uplifting everyone around him. Beyond his professional achievements, it's his warm and approachable demeanor that sets him apart. In any situation, Sean brings a genuine sense of warmth that fosters a collaborative and supportive environment. His ability to radiate positivity and create a welcoming atmosphere is truly commendable, making him not only an exceptional friend but also a source of inspiration for others."

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2025

Sean has spent the past 18 years working in medicine. He began as a paramedic, including two years focused on critical care pediatric transport at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. In 2014, he earned his Master of Medical Science (MMS) degree from the St. Louis University Physician Assistant Program. After gaining primary care experience, he transitioned to emergency medicine, completed an APP fellowship, and spent most of his PA career in urgent care.

In 2023, Sean joined WashU Medicine, working in the Cardiothoracic ICU. Alongside his clinical work, he serves as an adjunct faculty member at SLU, teaching EKG analysis and other medical topics. He also operates Rapid Med Ed, LLC, a St. Louis-based training organization offering AHA provider courses and CPR/First Aid.

Sean and his wife have three sons (ages 11, 9, and 7), and they enjoy playing UNO and traveling to the beach. A martial arts enthusiast for over 25 years, Sean holds a 4th-degree black belt.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2020

Allison is a proud Texan and graduate of University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She then traveled to St. Louis for anesthesiology residency where she has remained happily since 2012. She served as a Chief Resident in 2015-2016 and completed Obstetric Anesthesia Fellowship in 2016-2017. She has served as a faculty member primarily working in Obstetric Anesthesia as well as the General Division in Parkview Tower. She is extremely excited for her new role as Associate Program Director of the residency. Her goal in this position is to improve wellness education and give back to the program that gave her unparalleled training. Outside of work, she enjoys becoming a wine connoisseur and traveling internationally with friends and family.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: May 2024

Alex has been a CRNA in the Department of Anesthesiology since 2018. Currently, he is the Clinical Chief CRNA for BJH, and can be found working in any POD across South Campus, Parkview Tower, or the CAM.  Born and raised in St. Louis, Alex initially graduated from Mizzou with a bachelor's degree in Nuclear Medicine, but quickly realized that the nursing profession offered far more opportunities. Subsequently, not long after leaving Mizzou, Alex moved to Chicago where he obtained an accelerated BSN degree from Loyola University.

Fun fact; while in Chicago, Alex spent one football season working as a beer vendor during Bears games at Soldier Field, walking the aisles and perfecting his signature beer call.

After the birth of his first child, as most St. Louisans do, Alex returned home to St. Louis, where he worked as an RN in the CVICU at SLU Hospital for the next three years. After graduating from the Goldfarb Nurse Anesthesia program, Alex joined the WUDA team, where he's remained ever since.

Alex lives in Creve Coeur with his wife and three children ages 6, 8, and 11. A lifelong St. Louis sports fan, Alex tries to take his kids to as many Cardinals and Blues games as he can, cementing their fandom from an early age. Two of his biggest accomplishments include once winning a pizza-eating contest and hitting a homer at the old Bush Stadium, although not on the same day.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2020

David is originally from London in the UK and joined WashU in 2018 to further his academic ambitions in obstetric anesthesiology. His current clinical research aims to profile the pharmacokinetics of oxytocin at cesarean delivery and examine ketamine as a possible preventive intervention for postpartum depression. David met his wife, Scarlett in London in 2012 but they have now spent the majority of their relationship outside of the UK (Canada and Australia before their current stay in the USA). He and his family are enjoying settling down and making St. Louis their home with their baby daughter, Millie. Despite the blue that dominates his photograph (still celebrating the Stanley Cup, perhaps), David and his family are big Liverpool FC fans (soccer) and are very hopeful that the Reds will end 30 years of hurt by winning the English premier league in 2020!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: January 2023

Arianna Montes de Oca grew up in Caracas-Venezuela and went to MD school in Colombia. She joined the WashU anesthesiology family in 2019 to work in telemedicine research and is now halfway through her intern year. She has enjoyed the exposure to different specialties and teams this year and has definitely learned a lot in the process, but she can’t wait to start her CA-1 year!

She lives with her husband (Nimrod) and beautiful dog (Lara), but her family lives abroad, so she doesn’t miss a chance to travel and visit them. She loves working out, especially boxing and running in some of the beautiful parks this city has to offer…but it is not all exercise, she also likes drinking wine and beer, as well as eating out. She says life is all about balance!

Department of Anesthesiology – FAS Employee of the Quarter: January 2022

Karen is a Business and Technology Applications Analyst II in the IS group and just celebrated her 14th anniversary with the department. She manages the remaining departmental servers as well as KnowledgeLake and SharePoint support. Karen also handles Epic training role assignments and general access and training questions. Technical support of clinical issues has been recently added to her responsibilities and she looks forward to gaining a more in-depth knowledge of the clinical side of our department. She has been married for 30 years and has one child who is a REACH teacher in the Kirkwood school district. In her spare time, she enjoys working on her Lego city, New Brickmoore, which recently opened a new hospital, WUDA Memorial.