Profiled

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: October 2020

Dr. Sidhu grew up in Carbondale, IL, and attended Washington University where he earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology. After graduating, he returned home where he worked as a teaching assistant in anatomy and physiology, as well as a phlebotomist, for a few years before going to medical school at Southern Illinois University. Dr. Sidhu is currently a CA-2 in the residency program.

"Coming back to WashU and St. Louis for residency has been great, and despite the pandemic, having an incredibly supportive group of co-residents has made my time here incredibly fulfilling, said Dr. Sidhu. "Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with friends, trying new restaurants, and staying politically active (plus the occasional Netflix binge)."

Fun fact: His favorite show is the West Wing. Aaron Sorkin's writing is phenomenal and he re-watches the entire show at least once a year.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: August 2020

Preet is an Assistant Professor in the department's Obstetric division. Preet, along with his family, moved to St. Louis from Delhi, India, almost 2 years ago. His wife, Anuradha, is also a faculty in the department. He believes that the department’s international experts program is what makes the working environment so unique. “There are different ways of approaching a clinical problem, and this mix of international/national faculty gives me many different perspectives, expanding my thinking horizon." Preet enjoys working on various statistical models in healthcare and exploring their implications clinically. He has a keen interest in basic sciences within anesthesiology and enjoys discussing these concepts with the residents during teaching sessions. During his free time, he likes to listen to music and play with his 4-year-old daughter, Anvi.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2023

Dr. Pratik Sinha has been in the Department of Anesthesiology since July 2020, joining in the midst of the pandemic which he says he has selective amnesia about. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and his medical degree from the University of Manchester, UK. After medical school he embarked on a journey of clinical and research training across three different continents including Europe, Australia, and North America.

He received his PhD from Imperial College London. While he trained in both Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, he now works clinically as an intensivist only. Using a combination of novel biological measurements and state of the art data science approaches, Dr. Sinha runs a research program that seeks to change the way we identify and classify critically ill patients.

"If you want to do cool stuff and make a difference while doing it, come and work in my lab!" he says.

He likes to say he's frequently mistaken for Brad Pitt — which we might never know since he's been behind a mask since he's moved to WashU — but we might just have to ask his wife, Rachel, about that one. When he has free time, he hangs out with his three kids Indali, Koshin and Aariona. They enjoy hiking and being in nature — both locally and around the world. Pratik also enjoys playing soccer, reading books, and collecting vinyl records (reggae, electronica, Jazz).

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: February 2020

Gemma is the executive secretary for Dr. Anne Drewry, Division Chief of Critical Care Medicine. She has been a part of the team for the last three years and thoroughly enjoys working with both staff and clinical providers in the continuously expanding Department of Anesthesiology. Gemma grew up in the United Kingdom and came to the United States to attend Missouri State University. She spent her time at Missouri State obtaining a bachelor's degree in psychology and competing as a Division 1 track and field athlete specializing in long jump, triple jump and high jump. Gemma loves spending time with her family, especially her 1-year-old baby girl, Lainey.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: February 2021

Before joining the anesthesiology and critical care faculty at WashU, Kendall received her her BA, MD, and PhD from the University of Kansas and completed residency and critical care fellowship training at Duke University. She currently spends her clinical time as an intensivist and as a member of the WashU trauma anesthesiology team.

Kendall is passionate about clinical education and research. She is Assistant Program Director for Residency Affairs and Associate Program Director for the Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program. Her research focuses on circadian rhythms in perioperative medicine and their role in clinical outcomes such as delirium.

Outside of work, Kendall is a big fan of the Central West End where she is a new homeowner. She enjoys gardening, DIY home-improvement projects, and spending time with her partner in crime, Steven, and their very large Bergamasco Shepherd named Massimo!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: July 2023

Becky Snider Eickmeyer started with the Department of Anesthesiology in 1998 as a research patient coordinator in the pediatric division.  In addition to working on all aspects of studies—enrolling patients, completing IRB paperwork, and editing manuscripts—she learned about simulation education with Dr. David Murray. Her past experience as a PICU nurse was valuable when enrolling patients in critical care studies with Dr. Barry Markovitz. When the ABA decided to institute the basic exam for residents, the Department of Anesthesiology instituted changes to resident education. Becky worked with faculty to split up the CA-1 and CA-2 curriculum, which previously had been combined, and "Education Wednesdays" were instituted during this period. Becky obtained her Master of Health Science from Washington University in 2009 and became assistant director of education the same year.

Currently, Becky coordinates "Education Days" and "Tutorial" for residents, ACLS and BLS training in the department, as well as Learn@Work training.  In addition, she runs the Anesthesiology Simulation Center and serves as a resource for faculty who would like to become more involved in education. In her spare time, Becky enjoys visiting her children Andrew (in Massachusetts) and Bridget (in Kansas), and enjoys Cardinal baseball, kayaking, and pickleball.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2022

Ben Snyders is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in the Department of Anesthesiology. Ben graduated from Goldfarb School of Nursing in December 2014, and began working for the department. Clinically, he splits his time between St. Louis Children's Hospital and other acute adult sites. Ben enjoys going to multiple sites as it allows him to use a broad skill set and interact with patients of all ages. Ben is married to his wonderful wife, Rachael; together they have two rambunctious daughters (Quinn, 6; Sloane, 4) and just adopted a new puppy, Pearl. Outside of work, Ben enjoys golfing and softball, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: June 2025

Mary Sommer is a business director in the Department of Anesthesiology, where she oversees reporting services and epic support. She has been with the department for nearly seven years. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Saint Louis University and enjoys applying her problem-solving skills to projects that support the department’s operational success. She has a particular passion for creating data visualizations that drive better business decisions.

Mary loves spending time with her husband and their two children, both of whom attend Missouri State University. She also enjoys reading and taking her dog, Ham, to local parks.

Department of Anesthesiology – FAS Employee of the Quarter: September 2025

Megan Souter is the senior program coordinator for the WashU Medicine Department of Anesthesiology Residency Program. Megan received her Bachelor of Arts from Tabor College followed by almost 10 years of early childhood education experience as a former preschool and Pre-K teacher. Currently, she is responsible for the oversight of an 88-resident program and is C-TAGME certified. During her years as program coordinator, she has worked to streamline processes and revamp various areas of the program. When Megan is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Lilli, and playing board games with friends and family.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: April 2024

Katy has been with the Department of Anesthesiology for 12 years and spent the last 9 as a Pediatric Nurse Anesthetist. She previously earned dual-degrees in Spanish and Latin American Studies. While studying abroad in Guatemala, Katy was invited to join a Rotary International Group in Honduras as an interpreter. On this Medical Mission Trip, an enthusiastic and convincing nurse anesthetist planted the seeds for Katy to consider nursing as a profession, specifically anesthesia. Years later, she realized this dream by becoming a CRNA. Recently, she made it to the Dominican Republic. She was finally able to participate in a surgical service trip as a CRNA!

As an active member of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Katy is currently a PIA SAFE Champion and also a mentor for incoming pediatric hires at St. Louis Children's Hospital. Her involvement on the Pediatric Wellness Committee led to yoga in Forest Park and a well-attended rock-climbing evening at Upper Limits. Katy also enjoys keeping up and discussing books with fellow book club members in the peds division. Katy was previously engaged as a Peer Advocate for the Peri-Operative Space.

Outside of work, Katy enjoys yoga, fitness, outdoor adventuring, reading and nutritious food! She is also active in raising her three children (ages 9, 11, and 13). She enjoys supporting them in their activities, interests, and school communities. Fun Fact: As an exchange student, Katy visited so many countries she ran out of pages in her passport!