Faculty & Trainees Represent Department on the Global Stage

Over the past several weeks, the Department of Anesthesiology has been well-represented on the national and international stages. Our faculty, residents, and medical students traveled across the globe to attend and present at several premier medical conferences.

Attending national and international meetings is a cornerstone of our mission. These conferences offer transformative experiences that shape the careers of our trainees, expand clinical knowledge, and foster invaluable networking opportunities with national experts and global peers. Additionally, our team members bring back cutting-edge insights and innovative ideas that directly strengthen our department and elevate anesthesia care for all of our patients.

From pioneering first-in-the-world clinical technologies to presenting global health initiatives, our team made waves across a wide array of subspecialties this spring.

Pioneering Regional Anesthesia at ASRA

At the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) Annual Meeting, our team showed how we are operating at the forefront of clinical technology. Dr. Amanda Sparks, alongside faculty members Dr. Aaron Berg and Dr. Jacob Hutchins, presented their groundbreaking work on the first-in-the-world nerve blocks performed using robot-assisted ultrasound. This presentation generated significant excitement, demonstrating how robotic integration can enhance precision, workflow, and outcomes in regional anesthesia.

Shaping Global Health at the WCA

The 2026 World Congress of Anesthesiologists (WCA) in Marrakech, Morocco, provided an inspiring backdrop for global collaboration and education. Our faculty and residents showcased impactful research dedicated to expanding anesthesia access and improving safety worldwide. Dr. Bukola Toyobo presented the UpLEAP Single-Shot SPA module, a novel AI-supported mobile learning tool designed to democratize and expand access to spinal anesthesia training in low-resource environments.

On the educational simulation front, Dr. Ananya Abate shared research regarding task deconstruction, a framework being utilized to guide the development of a low-cost spinal anesthesia simulator. Additionally, Dr. Finn Radtke highlighted global perioperative outcomes from the Safe Brain Initiative, emphasizing international efforts to better protect and optimize brain health during surgery.

Cardiovascular Innovations at the SCA

Members of our department also traveled to the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Annual Meeting. Our faculty and residents had a fantastic time sharing their latest academic projects, engaging in high-level discussions with leaders in the field, and connecting with colleagues dedicated to advancing the complex care of cardiovascular anesthesiology patients.

For resident Dr. Hirofumi Kanazawa, presenting at the meeting offered a direct window into the national subspecialty community and highlighted the department's strong culture of mentorship.

"Presenting at the SCA Annual Meeting gave me the valuable opportunity to receive direct feedback from experts in cardiac anesthesiology and to reflect more deeply on the clinical decisions involved in my case," Dr. Kanazawa shared. "The process of preparing the poster was also an important learning experience. Through feedback from my mentor, Dr. Schneck, as well as Dr. Gorbaty and Dr. Navare, I gained a clearer understanding of the areas I should continue to focus on as I develop clinically and academically."

He also noted how the experience was highly impactful for his long-term career goals.

"Connecting with cardiac anesthesiologists, fellows, and residents from across the country and learning about clinical practice and education at other institutions was especially inspiring for me as someone hoping to pursue a career in cardiac anesthesiology. Attending conferences allows residents to connect their everyday clinical experiences with research and education, while also helping them think more intentionally about their future careers. The University of Minnesota provides a highly academic and supportive environment that encourages residents to develop and present their work, and I am very grateful to train in such an outstanding environment."

Massive Presence in Montreal

It was an incredibly busy and rewarding weekend in Montreal, Canada, for the joint International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) and Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists (SOCCA) Annual Meeting. Our department showcased its academic depth across workshops, panels, and poster sessions. Dr. Kumar Belani served as a key moderator for global health and anesthetic pharmacology sessions, while also presenting simulation research on infant airway models.

On pharmacology, Dr. Michael Todd and Dr. Neel Kapoor tackled critical topics by leading presentations on quantitative neuromuscular monitoring and optimal sugammadex dosing to eliminate residual paralysis. Critical care took center stage with Dr. Monica Lupei, who spoke on managing valve lesions in pregnancy and moderated a vital panel on the ethical dilemmas of advanced invasive therapies in the ICU, such as ECMO and organ support.

Highlighting our dedication to quality improvement, resident Dr. Francine Moriguchi shared insightful data focusing on patient-reported outcomes and delirium risk in older surgical patients, while Dr. Matthew Johnston contributed clinical research via a retrospective analysis presentation.

"As a trainee, attending IARS/SOCCA was invaluable," Dr. Moriguchi shared. "The conference offered great educational content while creating opportunities to connect with mentors and peers from across the country and world. These conversations and relationships will continue to shape my growth as an anesthesiologist and future intensivist."

Rounding out the meeting, Dr. Finn Radtke and Dr. Vanessa Moll led hands-on education, running a highly anticipated workshop for the Safe Brain Initiative’s EEG Bootcamp.

Advancing Obstetric Anesthesia at SOAP

Also in Montreal, our team joined obstetric anesthesia providers from around the world at the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) Annual Meeting. Our residents and faculty presented a series of complex case reports and research abstracts that highlighted the department’s clinical acumen in high-risk perinatology. Dr. Susanne Rupert presented an intricate case involving shortness of breath, pleural effusion, and an anterior mediastinal mass in a patient with Stage IV Lymphoma, while Dr. Jessica White shared a case report on managing acute exacerbations of pulmonary hypertension during Cesarean delivery.

The emergency management of rare conditions was a prominent theme, with Dr. Alexia Gagliardi detailing the emergent Cesarean section management of a parturient with a complex, repaired unbalanced atrioventricular (AV) canal defect, and Dr. Nana Yaa Kwansa highlighting a rare neuraxial complication regarding a cerebrospinal fluid-cutaneous fistula.

Finally, Dr. Iryna Chugaieva shared clinical insights on a new post-conceptional diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, and ascending aorta dilation, while Dr. Claire Herzog presented on the nuanced challenges in diagnosing and managing concurrent Sickle Cell Disease and HELLP syndrome.

Whether pioneering robotic anesthesia, collaborating with global health partners, or sharing complex clinical triumphs, our faculty, residents, and students are constantly making new insights in the field of anesthesiology. The insights brought home from these meetings will enrich our training programs, inspire our next wave of research, and continue to elevate the level of care we provide our patients every day. Thank you to everyone who represented our department on the world stage this spring!