Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellows

Residency: Baylor College of Medicine

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
My favorite memory from residency was visiting my medically complex patient in the ICU daily after she had complications from her TAVR. I started the day bonding with her in pre-op, participated in her Intraoperative care, was at bedside for the code blue and ultimately was able to talk her through an awake intubation during the take back. I cherished watching her recover in the ICU in the days after. 

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
I want to be the best anesthesiologist for my patients. 

What drew you to BCM?
Baylor is very welcoming and supportive. I couldn’t imagine a better place to train. 

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
Eat. Street to Kitchen Thai is one of the best restaurants. 

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
Defibrillate the patient. I never needed to in residency, but it’s been necessary for many of these complicated cases in fellowship already. 

Residency: Baylor College of Medicine

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
My favorite memory was going on my international rotation in Botswana through the Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatrics AIDS Initiative. During the day, I was working at the HIV primary care clinic with local physicians and rounding on their inpatient wards. After hours, we explored Gaborone and even took an overnight bus for a weekend trip to Zimbabwe. 

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
All my favorite attendings and mentors that I worked with in residency were fellowship trained in Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (most at THI!). I admired their ability to resuscitate the sickest patients and safeguard their well-being during a critical time in their hospital stay. Combined with the additional training in procedural skills and echo interpretation, fellowship aligned perfectly with my career goals to practice at the top of my license. 

What drew you to BCM?
I've felt incredibly supported by my program’s consistent mentorship and willingness to teach and collaborate, creating an empowering work environment. THI is allowing me to perform my own cases with graduated autonomy - allowing me to make independent decisions under careful mentorship and take ownership of my patients as a future Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist. 

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
Houston has a wonderful array of food - from fancy eateries, trendy cocktail bars, to authentic ethnic food! I’m partial to sushi and Szechuan - my personal favorites include Kata Robata, Soto, Cooking Girl, and Mala Sichuan. 

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
I joined a locally owned coffee and Pilates studio in Houston. If I get out of the OR early, my reward at the end of a day is sipping on a cold glass of iced matcha latte, study about echo, and take a class! 

Residency: Mayo Clinic, MN

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
The path in medicine is long. Life continues to happen throughout it. I got married during residency, and we had our first son during my CA3 year. It's hard being a mom and being a trainee. No part of it was easy, but I'm proud when I look back at the journey. 

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
I enjoyed doing CV cases in residency. I loved learning CV physiology and echo. Moreover, throughout residency, I watched multiple attendings handle OR crises. The cardiac anesthesiologists were better adapted to those situations. I knew doing a CV fellowship would also make me a better generalist. 

What drew you to BCM?
I wanted to be the best-trained CV anesthesiologist I could be. BCM offers the breadth and depth of surgical procedures that are needed to accomplish this. The faculty here go above and beyond in teaching throughout the cases. It's a hands-on fellowship, and I know I will leave with the skills I need. 

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
I love the Houston food scene. We have a list of restaurants we are trying to make our way through. Houston has some of the most diverse food in the country! 

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
One of the electives we can do is pediatric CV at Texas Children's Hospital. It's the number one center for pediatric cardiac surgery in the nation. I've done multiple circ arrest cases on newborns. 

Residency: Baylor College of Medicine

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
I’ve really enjoyed visiting family and friends around the country over the past few years. 

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
Cardiovascular anesthesiology exemplifies all the qualities that helped me choose anesthesiology overall: it is action-oriented, fast-paced, and dynamic. I also appreciate the importance of effective communication and teamwork with applications of complex pharmacology and pathophysiology.

What drew you to BCM?
I originally chose BCM for residency because of the wide range of hospitals we rotate through in the Texas Medical Center, which gives us many opportunities to become adaptable and strongly trained anesthesiologists. Then, I decided to stay because of the strong mentorship and role models we have in our department at Texas Heart Institute. 

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
I love exploring new restaurants and dessert shops in Chinatown.

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
I’m starting to travel and read more. I just returned from Portugal. 

Residency: University of Chicago

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
My favorite memory from medical school was our first school-wide ski trip to Sugarbush, Vermont. Thirty of us rented a house meant for twelve, and we enjoyed skiing in the beautiful mountains with a pleasant -30 Fahrenheit windchill! We then spent some time exploring local breweries, visited Ben & Jerry’s factory, and spent the night in Burlington. It sure beats the Houston heat!

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
I loved cardiovascular anesthesia as soon as I started my CA1 rotation. The tight-knit teamwork between the anesthesiologists, surgeons, perfusionists, and nurses is quite rewarding to be a part of. I also love the physics and technical aspects of invasive hemodynamic monitoring and transesophageal echocardiography: applying this knowledge to help vulnerable patients is very fulfilling professionally.

What drew you to BCM?
I was drawn to BCM by the sheer volume of complex cases, ranging from mechanical circulatory support, heart transplant, lung transplant, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complex aortic surgeries, and structural heart interventions. I also wanted to attend a program that emphasized working cases solo. Most importantly, everyone I spoke to on my interview day was fantastic, and I knew I would fit in well with the group’s culture.

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
Momentum climbing

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
Landmark-guided central lines! If I didn’t match at THI, I would likely never learn this valuable skill.

Residency: University of Texas Medical Branch

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
My favorite moment of my training was graduating from residency after so many years of hard work toward reaching that moment!

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
I chose cardiac anesthesia because I find the cases engaging and rewarding, and I find the physics of echocardiography and cardiac physiology interesting!

What drew you to BCM?
I was drawn towards BCM fellowship because I liked the idea of having a good number of co-fellows to learn with and make the year more fun. I also think the training here is some of the best in the country for cardiac anesthesia.

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
So far, my favorite spot in Houston is Memorial Park. I also like trying all the great restaurants. 

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before? 
In fellowship I’ve learned how to do a complete echo exam.

Residency: Baylor College of Medicine

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
My favorite memories from residency were the first times I did procedures successfully. I still remember my first central line and epidural! 

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
I chose cardiovascular anesthesia because I love taking care of complex patients and being a part of the CV OR team. I love the communication and planning that goes into cardiac cases. 

What drew you to BCM?
I was drawn to this fellowship because of the case volume and acuity of patients that come to THI for their care. 

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
I love going to Uchi for happy hour! 

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
Balancing taking care of a baby with being a fellow. 

Residency: USF Morsani College of Medicine, FL

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
Checking out new innovations and devices at conferences and finding out I was going to be a dad.

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
I felt that an ACTA training would broaden my understanding of anesthesia and increase my comfort level in treating acute patients. 

What drew you to BCM?
Excellent training and faculty.

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
Exploring parks, museums, and cafes. Finding new neighborhoods to walk our dog, Momo.

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
Becoming a dad and placing blind central lines.

Residency: Vanderbilt University

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
My favorite memory from residency was spending a month at AIC Kijabe Hospital in rural Kenya. It was a rewarding and humbling experience, and I learned more than I was ever taught.

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
I chose CV anesthesia for the excellent skill set, challenging physiology, and close patient co-management alongside surgeons and intensivists.

What drew you to BCM?
A former co-resident did his CV anesthesia fellowship here and loved it. When I interviewed, I found THI to be a great combination of friendly people and clinical excellence. Plus, Houston has amazing food, a diverse population, and great international flights!

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
Still exploring, but something involving ice cream.

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
Bolusing milrinone!

Residency: Washington University

What is your favorite memory from medical school or residency?
I had wonderful co-residents that I have formed lifelong friendships with. Residency is such a stressful time in our lives, and I think that really forges strong bonds. I’ll always remember the 2 a.m. pizza and movies in the residency lounge while on trauma nights. 

Why did you choose cardiovascular anesthesia?
I knew that I wanted to be comfortable taking care of the sickest patients, and I enjoy the high-pressure environment of the CT ORs. I also enjoy TEE and being able to help guide CT surgeons in real-time with your findings. 

What drew you to BCM?
First off, I really enjoyed my THI interview and the fellows seemed genuinely happy. I was looking for a fellowship where I would do most of my own cases to prepare me for my job as an attending. At THI, you will see everything. In my short time in the fellowship so far, I have done lung transplants, heart transplants, TAAs, plus dozens of the more bread and butter cardiac cases. 

What’s your favorite thing to do and/or favorite spot in Houston?
I’ve only been here a month, but my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed the food scene in Houston. Some of the best Mexican food and barbeque we’ve ever had. Looking forward to taking trips to Galveston to the beach and golfing more once the weather cools off a bit. 

What is one new thing you started in fellowship that you hadn’t done before?
After moving to Texas, my wife and I decided to start Duolingo to try to learn Spanish!