Profiled

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!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: December 2019

Bob is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in the department. He graduated from the Barnes Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia in 1978 and has over 41 years of service in his profession. He is laying down his “tools of the trade” and retiring at the end of December. After retirement, Bob plans to keep busy with family and friends, cooking and barbequing, driving his Porsche Boxster, playing with his Airedale Terrier, Piper, landscaping and working around his home, traveling, reading, and finishing his wife’s “to do” list. He may even take up his first passion again, art, in the form of drawing, painting, and sculpting. Bob would like to thank his many friends and colleagues in the department for putting up with the “Old Guy” all these years!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: November 2024

Rebecca is a CA-2 resident in the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine. Originally from Central Wisconsin, she grew up as a competitive ice dancer, training intensively and eventually performing professionally with Disney On Ice. Over her three-year career with Disney, Rebecca toured extensively across the U.S. and Southeast Asia, visiting countries like Thailand, Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia.

Following a sports-related injury that ended her skating career, Rebecca shifted her focus to academics. She earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Hamline University in Minnesota while working as a lab technician and junior scientist in pain research. Her passion for understanding pain mechanisms led her to the University of Minnesota, where she completed the Medical Scientist Training Program, earning both her MD and a PhD in neuroscience with a focus on basic pain research.

Now part of the ASAP training program at WashU Medicine, Rebecca is preparing to begin a fellowship in regional anesthesia in February. She plans to continue her research into pain modulation, specifically examining the spinal cord's dorsal horn circuitry.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: January 2024

Joshua Spiro, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology working primarily at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Spiro grew up in Arizona where he spent many summers working with kids as a camp counselor. After medical school at the University of Arizona, Dr. Spiro subsequently completed residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a pediatric fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. As an attending, he continues to love working with children and teaching in all capacities. When not at work, he enjoys reading science fiction, cooking, and asking his wife if she’s seen all the funny memes he sends her.

Fun Fact: Dr. Spiro started breakdancing while in college and still battles intermittently under his childhood nickname: "Brown Sugar."

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2024

Dr. Tracey Stevens is an associate professor of anesthesiology at WashU Medicine. She was born and raised in St. Louis prior to attending college at the University of Wisconsin – Madison (Go Badgers!). Tracey returned to St. Louis to attend medical school at WashU, where she subsequently completed her residency in anesthesiology and fellowship in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology. Tracey joined our department as faculty nearly 11 years ago and currently serves as the associate division chief for our cardiothoracic division.

Clinically, Dr. Stevens focuses on the perioperative optimization of patients having procedures with anesthesia, and the anesthetic management of patients undergoing cardiovascular and thoracic procedures in the operating rooms and cardiac procedure center. Tracey is energized by teaching and mentoring our trainees and newer faculty, as well as multi-disciplinary collaboration to ensure we provide the highest quality of care to complex patients.

Outside of the hospital, Tracey enjoys spending time with friends and her amazing family – her husband, Brent, their son, Sam, and their newest addition…a goldendoodle named Yuri.

Fun fact: Tracey loves everything STL including summer nights at the Muny, its professional sports teams, and yes…even Imo’s pizza!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: September 2020

Ben is a current CA-1 resident within the department. He grew up in the Indianapolis suburbs and attended Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!) where he majored in Biochemistry. He then attended medical school at Indiana University as well. After graduating, he moved here to St. Louis where he quickly became a fan of the local cuisine, like toasted ravioli, and the local hockey team (Go Blues!). In his free time, he enjoys camping/hiking with his girlfriend Courtney, running, cycling, going to concerts and watching open wheel motorsports. Fun fact: Ben is a self-proclaimed speed walking champion and challenges anyone to a race – he has yet to lose!

Department of Anesthesiology FAS Employee of the Quarter: January 2023

Ann has been named the 2023 Q3 Employee of the Quarter! Her nominator says, "Ann is always a pleasure to work with! Her attitude and wiliness to facilitate the credentialing process while educating providers and colleagues is invaluable! She is consistently supportive, responsive, and knowledgeable. She is proactive and willing to “find” the answers/solutions!"

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: November 2025

Charlotte relocated to St. Louis and joined the department as an Administrative Coordinator in July 2024. In her role, she supports several leaders in our Executive Suite, keeping projects and schedules running smoothly. She also lends a creative touch to recruitment and department events, recently helping assist the Marketing & Communications team.

Originally from Oklahoma, Charlotte has also called New Jersey and Arizona home. She loves exploring each new state by camping, kayaking, and hiking. Outside of work, she teaches vinyasa yoga at local studios and enjoys spending time at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Her two cats, Chad and Potato, frequently make surprise appearances on Zoom. Swing by the Northwest Tower to say hi (and maybe spot a photo of the cats).