Residents Earn Top Honors at MARC 2026

Residents from the University of Minnesota Department of Anesthesiology recently participated in the 2026 Midwest Anesthesia Residents Conference (MARC), an annual event that brings together residents, fellows, faculty, and students from anesthesiology programs across the Midwest. Since its founding in 1961, MARC has grown into one of the largest anesthesia residents’ conferences in North America, offering a dynamic forum to share challenging clinical cases, innovative research, and quality improvement initiatives.

This year, six of our residents were recognized for excellence in case presentations across multiple subspecialties. First-place honors were awarded to Claire Herzog, MD, and Chase Soukup, MD, in the general anesthesia category, and to Lindsey Simonson, MD, in critical care medicine. Second-place awards were earned by Hirofumi Kanazawa, MD, in the pain medicine category, Enrique Vergara, MD, for his airway case presentation, and Wen Zhong, MD, for pediatric anesthesia.

These achievements highlight the strength of our residency program and the dedication, clinical insight, and scholarly engagement of our residents. MARC continues to provide an outstanding opportunity for professional growth, collaboration, and academic exchange in a collegial and educational environment.

Congratulations to all of our residents who represented our department and shared their exceptional work.