Profiled

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: June 2020

Katie was born and raised in St. Louis. She went to undergraduate school at Mizzou and graduate school at Webster University. Katie has been with the department since 2011. Initially, she rotated between adults and pediatrics, but PEDs has been her home for the last 8 years. She lives in Brentwood with her husband Adam, their two kids Ethan (5), Addie (3), and their golden retriever, Truman. She and her family enjoy traveling, biking, spending weekends at her family lake house, and cheering on the Cardinals.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: August 2025

Ben Fiori, has been a vital member of the Division of Clinical and Translational Research (DoCTR) since joining the Department of Anesthesiology in May 2019. He earned his bachelor of science in biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2012 and his bachelor of science in nursing from Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes Jewish College in 2015. Over the years, he has held several roles in the department, progressing from research nurse coordinator to nurse manager, and currently serves as thesenior manager of clinical trials and operations. Fiori brings a unique and valuable skill set to the research team, with extensive experience in managing clinical operations both in academia and for contract research organizations. His work has spanned early-phase bioequivalence and bioavailability studies, as well as Phase I–III drug and device trials across diverse areas such as oncology, surgery, cardiology, and anesthesiology. He currently oversees a team of approximately 45 research staff and leads initiatives related to clinical trial feasibility, staffing, and protocol execution.

Ben grew up in Calhoun County, Illinois. Outside of work, he enjoys playing volleyball, gardening, cooking & baking, camping, and spending time with his husband, friends, two dogs (Bella and Duke), and two cats (Lou and Mac).

Department of Anesthesiology – APP of the Quarter: December 2022

Maureen Flanagan (She/Her) is a nurse practitioner from Dallas, Texas. She earned her bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2014 and went on to earn her RN and MSN from Yale University in 2017. She has been practicing in the Surgical ICUs here at BJH since her graduation in 2017. In her free time, she loves exploring new places around the world, cooking new pasta recipes, and spending time with her dog, Luka.

Maureen was named the Q4 2022 APP of the Quarter! Her nominator says, "Maureen works hard in difficult situations and goes above & beyond to provide great care for her patients. She's smart and is a true team player."

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: September 2019

Cat is a resident physician in her final year of training with the Department of Anesthesiology. She’s currently looking forward to the excitement of the upcoming resident recruitment season. Outside of work, she enjoys adding to her laps of Forest Park, and exploring the vastly underrated hiking trails of Missouri.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2025

Vinny Francio is a clinical instructor in the Division of Pain Medicine at the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine. Born and raised in Brazil in an Italian family, he, like most kids in Brazil, first dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. When that didn’t work out, he pursued music with hopes of becoming a rockstar, but that path also took a different turn. His journey eventually led him to healthcare, first as a chiropractor before moving to the U.S. 15 years ago to further his education. He earned a Master’s in Clinical Research and completed his residency and pain fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Now specializing in the comprehensive management of spine and chronic pain disorders, Dr. Francio takes a multidisciplinary approach while incorporating advanced minimally invasive procedures. Since joining WashU Pain Center in October 2024, he has introduced innovative pain interventions to enhance patient care and advance medical education. Passionate about academic medicine, he values the opportunity to combine clinical practice, research, and teaching while mentoring the next generation of pain specialists.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Francio enjoys traveling and frequently lectures at national and international pain conferences, combining his love for education and traveling. When not in clinic, in procedures, or in the OR, he finds time to indulge his lifelong passions—playing soccer, guitar, and drums in his spare time. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and their two horses, supporting her equestrian hunter-jumper activities.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: November 2020

Ben is one of the chief residents in the Department of Anesthesiology. He completed his undergraduate training in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, got his Masters in the History of Medicine from Oxford University, and received his MD from Columbia University.

He spent a year working for the CDC in Botswana after graduating from college and before receiving his Masters, where his research focused on novel ways to diagnose tuberculosis in HIV positive patients. Ben and his wife Hannah (OBGYN) couples matched at Washington University and have made a very happy life here, meeting some of their best friends in their respective residencies and thriving in the rich and challenging clinical environment at WashU.

Ben has served on the Resident Education Committee for the past three years and is passionate about resident education. He plans to pursue a fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts next year.

In his spare time, Ben is an avid runner and has run numerous marathons and half marathons. He also enjoys cycling, spending time with his outstanding co-residents, and reading. He is currently on a Civil War and early American History bender and would love any recommendations!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: June 2020

Karen is a Senior Research Coordinator in the Division of Clinical and Translational Research (DoCTR). She has worked for Washington University for 19 years, starting as a research assistant with the Department of Psychiatry. She joined DoCTR in 2008, with a dual appointment in Neurology, and transitioned to DoCTR full-time in 2012. Karen specializes in the use of Quantitative Sensory Testing for pain management studies and is currently coordinating a study to prevent chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. She enjoys spending time outside of work with family and friends, at the batting cage with her nephews, and cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals. She hasn’t missed a home opener in 10+ years so you know where she will be on April 2nd! GO CARDS!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: July 2020

Bradley recently transitioned to a new role as an instructor in the Division of Critical Care and in the Division of Clinical and Translational Research. He cares for patients in the department's various surgical intensive care units and in the eICU. His research interests include the prevention of postoperative delirium and the application of artificial intelligence to improve patient care before, during, and after surgery.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed his undergraduate training in biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He moved to St. Louis in 2010 to attend medical school at Washington University, and he has been involved with clinical research in the Department of Anesthesiology since 2011. He trained in the department's Academic Scholars Advancement Program (ASAP) from 2015-2020, which included his anesthesiology residency, critical care medicine fellowship, and a T32 research fellowship.When not in the hospital, Bradley enjoys playing piano, singing, and performing musical theatre with several community groups around the St. Louis area.

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: March 2024

Andi Gabaldón (they/them pronouns) serves as the assistant program coordinator on our education team. Andi assists the residency program by managing data entry projects, assisting with events, and day-to-day operations. Prior to joining the team, Andi served as a case manager for the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. While they are still learning the role, Andi is empowered by the education team to discuss D.E.I. topics and is motivated to advocate for our residents. Andi hopes to foster an inclusive environment as an assistant program coordinator here at Washu.

Outside of work, Andi is a printmaker who enjoys creating new hand carved linoleum relief prints to sell at various artisanal markets throughout St. Louis. Andi enjoys the hands-on process of printmaking and challenging themselves to make their creative visions into reality—getting to know local artists was a bonus they didn’t anticipate but very much love as well!

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: May 2025

Kelly joined the Department of Anesthesiology in November 2018 and currently serves as the Compliance Review/Claims Analyst within the billing division. Her career at WashU includes previous roles in the departments of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Orthopedics, and Otolaryngology.

Kelly began her career as a medical coder and was quickly promoted to team lead—a role she held for five years before stepping into her current position. Her responsibilities include auditing billed charges and provider documentation, offering education and training, and running reports to identify and submit missing charges. She especially enjoys supporting her colleagues with complex cases and collaborating with providers to ensure accuracy. Passionate about the ever-evolving nature of medical coding, Kelly thrives on its challenges and continuous learning opportunities.

A lifelong resident of Millstadt, Illinois, Kelly still calls her hometown home, where she lives with two of her three daughters. She previously served as an EMT for the local ambulance service and has a soft spot for animals, sharing her home with three adopted cats: Ash, Cheeseball, and Itty Bitty. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, trying new foods, working out, and doing puzzles. She’s especially excited about an upcoming trip to Yosemite in April 2025.

Fun fact: Kelly recently became a first-time grandmother! Her daughter MacKenzie and son-in-law Weston welcomed baby Easton in July 2024.