Message from the Chair

The Department of Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine has a long tradition of innovation. This creative impulse has kept the Vanderbilt Anesthesiology Department in the vanguard of clinical discovery, basic science research, and translational application of new knowledge throughout perioperative medicine.

Anesthesiology is a dynamic and rapidly evolving medical specialty. Although the operating room anesthetic of today would be familiar to an anesthesiologist from 20 or 40 years ago, our technology has improved, and our scope of practice has expanded dramatically to incorporate the full arc of perioperative medicine. Simultaneously, the economic and regulatory landscape within which we care for our patients has been fundamentally changing beneath our feet for a generation.

Vanderbilt Anesthesiology has the intellectual agility to maintain equilibrium and thrive in this unstable environment. We get the right people onto the team, create the right systems of practice to provide optimum patient care, and develop innovative technology to improve the capabilities of our clinicians. We train the future leaders of perioperative medicine in research, clinical innovation and patient care, and we put those skills into practice every day.

Our department is characterized by optimism, excitement, talent, and a commitment to work together to improve our knowledge and the care we provide to our patients. We welcome individuals at all levels who share this commitment and our passion for creating the best perioperative science and medicine.

sandberg
Warren S. Sandberg, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Anesthesiology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Chief of Staff, Vanderbilt University Hospital
Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery and Biomedical Informatics
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine


Department Achievements

Congratulations to Christina Boncyk, MD, who was recently featured in the ASA Monitor by the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER). The article is titled: "Career Development through Adversity." Click here to read more.

 

Congratulations to Letha Mathews, MBBS! She has been selected as one of 25 candidates for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine's Academy for Excellence in Clinical Medicine (AECM). The AECM was formed in 2021 to honor exemplary clinicians who combine humanism, professionalism and a passion for patient care with a scholarly approach to improving patient health and establish a community of leaders to promote clinical excellence. Click here to read more.

 

Congratulations to John Corey, MD, and Jeremy Walker, MD, for being recognized with the prestigious Patient Experience Award for the Fiscal Year 2024! This achievement is a testament to the exceptional personalized care that our teams consistently provide to our patients. To receive this award, providers and/or their respective areas had to achieve a top box score at or above the 90th percentile compared to Press Ganey's All Client benchmark for the entire fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), which is a difficult bar to reach. Additionally, they needed to have an N size greater than 30. Their hard work and dedication have not only enhanced our patients' experiences but have also set a benchmark for excellence within our organization. Thank you for your leadership and for fostering an environment that prioritizes exceptional patient care. Let us continue to strive for excellence and inspire each other to reach even greater heights in the future.

 

Join us in congratulating Christina Jelly, MD, and Meredith Kingeter, MD! Both have been selected to attend the AAMC 2025 Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar, which will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, in February 2025.

 

Congratulations to Stephanie Woodward, MD, on being elected as Councilor - Obstetrics for the Association of Anesthesiology Subspecialty Program Directors (AASPD). Dr. Woodward will serve a 2-year term from November 2024 to November 2026.

 

Congratulations to Christie Crotts on her award for CRNA of the Year for National Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Week.


Upcoming Educational Lectures
 

There will not be a Grand Rounds lecture on Friday, December 27 and January 3, 2025.