The SPA Nominating Committee reviewed a record number of nominees for the SPA Board of Directors. The Committee’s candidate recommendations for the upcoming election for the position of Secretary-Treasure and four At-Large Director positions were recently approved by the current Board of Directors. Please review the candidate information below – including bios and candidate videos. The election will be held July 15 – August 31, 2026. Members who are eligible to vote will receive an email later this month with a link to the election ballot.
Officer Candidates
PRESIDENT – John Fiadjoe, MD, MBA
VICE PRESIDENT – Olutoyin (Toyin) Olutoye MD, MSc, FAAP, FASA
SECRETARY-TREASURER –Emmett Whitaker, MD
Director-At-Large Candidates (4 open positions)
Travis L. Reece-Nguyen, MD, MPH, FASA, FAAP
Samuel David Yanofsky, MD, MSEd, ACC
Officer Candidates
PRESIDENT
John Fiadjoe, MD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Current Position
Title: Chair and Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine; Distinguished Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
Institution: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Academic Appointment: Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Education and Training
- Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University, BS, Biomedical & Electrical Engineering, 1995
- Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, MD, 1999
- Internship: General Surgery, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, 1999–2000
- Research Scholar: Urology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 2000–2001
- Residency, Anesthesiology: State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, 2001–2004 (Administrative Chief Resident, 2003–2004)
- Fellowship, Pediatric Anesthesiology: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2005–2006
- Board Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology (2005); Subspecialty Certification in Pediatric Anesthesiology (2014)
- MBA Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 2023-2025
- Honorary Degree: Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon. DSc.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2025
SPA Membership and Service
- SPA Member since 2005
- Chair and Founding Member, Pediatric Difficult Intubation (PeDI) Multicenter Airway Collaborative, 2011–present — the SPA-affiliated collaborative that has grown to include >30 international centers and generated landmark pediatric airway evidence.
- Member, SPA Board of Directors, 2016–2020
- Secretary/Treasurer and Executive Committee Member, SPA Board of Directors, 2023–present — President Elect and Education Committee chair, involved in 2026–2030 SPA Strategic Plan
- Program Chair, SPA Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, 2017
- Chair or Co-Chair, SPA Difficult Airway Workshop (Annual Meetings 2012, 2014, 2015, and subsequent years)
- Workshop Coordinator and Problem-Based Learning Discussion Organizer, SPA Education Committee (2015)
- Frequent invited speaker, moderator, and panelist at SPA Annual and Winter Meetings, 2011–present
Other Professional Society Memberships and Service
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) — Member, 2002–present; Member, ASA Difficult Airway Task Force, 2019–2021 (co-author, 2022 ASA Practice Guidelines for Management of the Difficult Airway, Anesthesiology, 2022).
- American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) — Associate Board Examiner, 2011–2015; Oral Board Examiner, 2015–2019; Member, Board of Directors, 2019–present; Chair, Credentials Committee, 2023–present, Secretary 2024-present
Selected Leadership Positions
- Chair and Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2024–present
- Distinguished Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2024–present
- Executive Vice Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital (Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School), 2021–2024
- Member, University Council and Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2017–2021)
Clinical and Research Interests
Pediatric difficult airway management and innovation in pediatric perioperative care; multi-institutional collaborative research; application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and behavioral economics to clinical workflow, research productivity, and medical education; faculty development, leadership pipeline design in academic medicine.
Selected Honors and Awards
- Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon. DSc.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2025 (Keynote Address, Hooding Ceremony)
- Digby Leigh Award for Contribution to the Field of Pediatric Anesthesiology, 2024
- Ellison C. Pierce, Jr., MD Merit Award, Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, 2017
- Award for Professional Leadership & Program Director, Society for Pediatric Anesthesia / AAP Section on Anesthesiology, 2017
- Distinguished Scientist Award and Outstanding Resident of the Year, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 2004
Selected Publications and Scholarly Impact: Google Scholar: h-index 34, i10-index 78, more than 5,600 citations.
- Fiadjoe JE, Nishisaki A, Jagannathan N, et al. Airway management complications in children with difficult tracheal intubation from the Pediatric Difficult Intubation (PeDI) registry: a prospective cohort analysis. Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2016;4(1):37–48.
- Garcia-Marcinkiewicz AG, Kovatsis PG, Hunyady AI, … Fiadjoe JE (senior). First-attempt success rate of video laryngoscopy in small infants (VISI): a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. The Lancet 2020;396(10266):1905–1913.
- Apfelbaum JL, Hagberg CA, Connis RT, … Fiadjoe JE, et al. 2022 American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Guidelines for Management of the Difficult Airway. Anesthesiology 2022;136(1):31–81.
- Matava C, Kovatsis P, Lee Summers J, Fiadjoe J. Pediatric airway management in COVID-19 patients: Consensus Guidelines from the SPA PeDI Collaborative and the Canadian Pediatric Anesthesia Society. Anesthesia & Analgesia 2020;131(1):61–73.
- Stein ML, … Fiadjoe JE, Kovatsis PG, PeDI Collaborative Investigators. Airway management in the paediatric difficult intubation registry: a propensity score matched analysis of outcomes over time. EClinicalMedicine 2024;69:102461.
Personal Statement
I am honored to stand for President of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia. SPA shaped my career, first as a community of mentors who invested in a junior faculty member, and over time as a collaborative network where I have had the privilege to serve, contribute, and watch the next generation of leaders rise. That ripple effect is what energizes me.
Our 2026–2030 Strategic Plan names three priorities: expanding and retaining the pediatric anesthesiology workforce; advancing pediatric anesthesia care through education, advocacy, and research; and enhancing the organizational capacity to sustain our future. As a current member of the Executive Committee, I helped shape this plan and my commitment as President is disciplined execution of that plan turning intention into measurable progress for our members.
I bring two distinct assets to that work: a track record of building collaborative, multi-institutional networks that change practice and a working understanding of how AI and modern tools can multiply the impact of a society our size. Paired with an empathetic, transparent, hard-working leadership style, I would be privileged to serve.
VICE PRESIDENT
Olutoyin (Toyin) Olutoye MD, MSc, FAAP, FASA
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Anesthesiologist-in-Chief
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
Medical Degree from Obafemi Awolowo University Medical school, Ife, Nigeria: October 1990
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. 1993-1994
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. 1994-1997
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: 1998-1999
Name and City/State of Hospital/University where additional training was completed
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX- master’s in clinical science, 2011.
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
Past member of SPA Communication committee; Past member of SPA Board of Directors: 2018- 2022; Chair SPA Research Committee: 2007-2022; Member SPA Research Committee: 2007-present. Secretary-Treasurer 2024-present.
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
Current member of International Fetal Medicine & Surgery Society (IFMSS, from 2003 to date). Served as past co-president of this organization in 2016. The IFMSS focuses on multidisciplinary discussion, deliberations, and advances in Fetal surgery. No anticipated future leadership roles in this organization or other organizations outside of the SPA at this time.
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills:
As past Chair of the Research committee, I:
- Worked closely with the administrators of the society to ensure all abstracts were properly reviewed (developed a new scoring system that separated case reports and reviews from true science-based research), allowing for more research work to be visible.
- Worked with other SPA members to incorporate the Lightening Abstracts session idea that was suggested (by Dr. Julia Galvez), into the meeting and allowed for partnership with members of the Research Committee on the execution of the concept. This has allowed top notch work to be highlighted on stage thereby providing visibility for the author’s work. This has become one of the favorite sessions of the meeting.
- Created leadership opportunities within the Research Committee of the SPA by establishing a SPA survey review subcommittee as well as the Statistics sub review committee. These not only provided focused assistance with the survey process and provided statistical help, but also provided opportunities for others to have leadership opportunities within the Society.
- I am currently collaborating with some members of the Research committee to facilitate a focus group of parents who will provide ideas on the research ideas that the SPA should be fostering. This will be part of a larger Delphi study which incorporates suggested research priorities from the different Special interest groups within the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia.
As Secretary-Treasurer I have worked with the Society’s management company to oversee disbursement of monies to the different affiliate societies after meetings, payment of hotels for meeting engagement, and also work with investment company Modera to ensure the society’s investments are well protected.
Leadership experience:
Since October 2022, I have served as the Anesthesiologist-in-Chief at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. In this role, I manage approximately 36 faculty, 26 CRNAs, and 13 APNs. I am also a member of the hospital leadership team and work closely with the surgeon-in-chief to oversee peri-operative operations. Prior to this role, I have served in different leadership roles at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston where during different time periods, I served in various roles: Director for Fetal Anesthesia, Chair of Professionalism, Division Chief for General Anesthesiology Division, Vice- Chair for Academic Affairs, and the Associate Anesthesiologist in-Chief. In these roles, I have collaborated with multiple individuals outside the Department of Anesthesiology, resulting in the building of programs and relationships. In the process I developed my people skills, mentoring style, and mastered the skills of negotiation and conflict management. I have been a member of the International Fetal Medicine & Surgery Society since 2003 and served as Co-President in 2016. In these capacities, I have interacted and collaborated with maternal fetal medicine specialists, surgeons and anesthesiologists from different institutions who are focused on the care of the fetus.
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Emmett Whitaker, MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship
Director, Residency Research Scholarship Program
Associate Director, Anesthesiology T32 Program
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
Niagara University, Niagara Falls, NY
B.S. Biology, 2002
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, M.D., 2006
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
Mercy Medical Center/University of Maryland, Internal Medicine, 2006-2007
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2007-2012
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2012-2013
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
I have been involved with SPA since residency and have continued to increase my participation in the Society over time. My SPA service has included membership on the Education Committee, Research Committee, Communications Committee, and Young Investigator Grant Selection Committee, as well as service as an SPA abstract reviewer and PBLD reviewer, and workshop reviewer. I was elected to the SPA Board of Directors in 2022 as an At-Large Member, which allowed me to contribute to the governance and strategic direction of the Society. In addition to committee and board service, I have been directly involved in SPA annual meeting programming. For example, I served as coordinator and faculty for the SPA Annual Meeting workshop “Implementing Spinal Anesthesia in Your Practice” in both 2020 and 2021, including the in-person meeting in Nassau and the virtual meeting during the pandemic. I also served as moderator for SPA annual meeting sessions, including the 2025 poster session, and as session chair for the 2023 session “The Art and Science of Anesthesiology.” In 2025, I was again involved in SPA educational programming and abstract review, reflecting a sustained commitment to the Society’s mission.
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
I have been active in several other national and international anesthesia organizations beyond SPA. With the American Society of Anesthesiologists, I have been a member since 2003 and have held several roles over the years, including Resident Delegate for both the ASA Resident Component and the Maryland Society of Anesthesiologists from 2006 to 2011. I also served on the ASA Committee on Pediatric Anesthesia in 2008–2009, later joined the ASA Abstract Review Subcommittee on Pediatric Anesthesia from 2018 to 2020, and served on the ASA Abstract Review Subcommittee on Experimental Neurosciences from 2019 to 2021. In addition, I have served as a moderator for ASA annual meeting sessions, including the 2017 Medically Challenging Case session, the 2018 oral presentations session in Pediatric Anesthesia and Pain, the 2019 poster sessions, and the 2020 poster sessions. I have also contributed to the American Board of Anesthesiology as a question writer for the Pediatric Anesthesiology Certification Examination from 2015 to 2023 and as a member of the ABA Standard Setting Committee in 2020. Outside of those roles, I have been active with the International Anesthesia Research Society as a member and abstract reviewer, with the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research as a member of the Mentored Research Training Grant planning and nurturing committees, and as an associate member of the Association of University Anesthesiologists. I also served as Program Chair for the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia annual meeting in 2021 and as Program Co-Chair for the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland annual meeting in 2025, reflecting engagement in both national and international pediatric anesthesia organizations.
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
A major example of my collaborative work has been the development of the infant spinal anesthesia program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, which I founded and directed from 2015 to 2018 in collaboration with my colleague and surgeon champion, Dr. Rama Jayanthi. That effort required close coordination with pediatric urology, perioperative nursing, anesthesia colleagues, and hospital stakeholders to create educational materials, design workflows, and build infrastructure for a new clinical program. The program ultimately grew to more than 1,500 infant spinal anesthetics, and it also became the basis for a SPA workshop that was accepted at the annual meeting five years in a row. I have also collaborated extensively in research, including multi-author studies on infant spinal anesthesia, pediatric cerebrovascular physiology, and perinatal stroke, often working across disciplines with clinicians, surgeons, neurologists, physiologists, statisticians, and trainees. In education, I have worked closely with residents, fellows, and students at Johns Hopkins, Nationwide Children’s, Ohio State, and the University of Vermont, including supervising residents on pediatric anesthesia rotations and mentoring numerous junior faculty, fellows, postdoctoral fellows, and medical students. I have found that productive collaboration depends on clear communication, reliability, and respect for the expertise of each team member, and these principles have guided both my clinical and academic work. I have also collaborate closely on research with coauthors across disciplines, including pediatric anesthesiologists, surgeons, neurologists, physiologists, statisticians, and trainees, on studies ranging from infant spinal anesthesia and pediatric cerebrovascular physiology to perinatal stroke and neonatal brain development.
Leadership experience
My leadership experience spans clinical program development, education, research mentoring, and national professional service. At Johns Hopkins, I currently serve as Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Attending Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Associate Program Director for the Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program, Director of the Residency Research Scholarship Track, and Associate Director of the T32 Physician Scientist Training Program. Earlier, at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, I served as Associate Director of Resident/SRNA Education and Director of Medical Student Education, and at the University of Vermont I held faculty appointments while contributing to departmental education, quality/safety, and admissions activities. One of my most significant leadership accomplishments was founding and directing the Infant Spinal Anesthesia Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where I led the creation of clinical infrastructure, coordinated staff education, organized case flow, and worked with surgical and perioperative teams to establish a successful new program. This initiative not only changed practice locally but also served as a model for other institutions and for educational programming at SPA annual meetings. My leadership has also extended to national governance and assessment roles, including election to the SPA Board of Directors, service as Program Chair for the SPA Annual Meeting in 2021, and service on the American Board of Anesthesiology question-writing and standard-setting processes. I have also led educational and scholarly initiatives through lecture series, board review teaching, grant review committees, and mentorship of junior colleagues and trainees, all of which reflect a consistent commitment to building programs, developing people, and advancing the field.
Director Candidates
Phillip Carullo, MD
Emory University School of Medicine, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
Director of Education, Department of Anesthesiology, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy of Science, 2010
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine – Chicago, Illinois
Doctor of Medicine, 2015
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2015–2016
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Anesthesiology Residency, 2016–2019
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship, 2019–2020
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
- Member, PAPDA, 2021-2025
- Member, SPA Education Committee, 2021–present
- Co-Founder, SPAERS (Subcommittee for Education of Residents and Students), 2022
- Vice Chair, SPAERS, 2023–2025
- Chair, SPAERS, 2025–202
- Member, SPA Strategic Planning Work Group on Expanding and Retaining the Pediatric —Anesthesiology Workforce, 2025–present
Through SPAERS, I have helped develop national trainee engagement initiatives including networking events, educational programming, and digital outreach that have connected more than 1,000 trainees to pediatric anesthesiology over the past three SPA meetings.
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
- Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine – National meeting workshop faculty educator (2023–2025)
- Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland – Invited speaker and workshop faculty (2025)
Additional contributions include invited lectures, national workshops, podcasts, and collaborative initiatives focused on pediatric anesthesia education and workforce development.
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
My career has focused on building collaborative programs that connect trainees, faculty, and institutional leadership. At the University of Pittsburgh, I helped develop an innovation curriculum within the anesthesiology residency by partnering with engineering and business teams to introduce trainees to technology development in the perioperative space.
While at Pittsburgh, I also helped launch a community charity event in honor of my brother, who died from an opioid-related overdose—an effort that has continued beyond my time there. At Johns Hopkins, I was involved in developing an innovation-focused scholarship component within the fellowship program. At Emory, I lead Education Day, a practical, workday-based educational program designed for non-trainee learners.
Across these efforts, I’ve worked closely with interdisciplinary teams to align goals, build trust, and follow through on execution. My approach is to listen and observe deeply, bring the right people together, and make sure ideas turn into something meaningful.
Leadership experience
- Director of Education, Pediatric Anesthesia – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta / Emory University
- Former Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program Director – Johns Hopkins University
- Former Associate Program Director – Johns Hopkins Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship
- Chair – SPAERS (Society for Pediatric Anesthesia)
- Vice Chair – SPAERS
- Chief Fellow – Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
- Chief Resident – University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Lynnie R. Correll MD, PhD
British Columbia Children’s Hospital
Vancouver BC, Canada
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Associate Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics
Co-Director, Pediatric Anesthesia Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital and Research Institute
Director, Pediatric Periprocedural Integrative Medicine Clinic, BCCH
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
AB in Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology as well as Environmental Sciences (2002)
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 2005-2012
PhD in Oncological Sciences, conferred May 2011
MD, conferred May 2012
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
2012-2013 Internship in Pediatrics. University of Rochester, Rochester NY
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
2013-2017 Residencies in Pediatrics and Anesthesiology. University of Rochester, Rochester NY
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
2017-20218 Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship, University of Rochester, Rochester NY
2018-2020 Integrative Medicine Fellowship, Academy of Integrative Health in Medicine, La Jolla CA (hybrid program while working as full-time faculty)
Prior involvement in SPA
2023-2024: I served as the PBLD Program Shadow for the 2024 SPA-AAP Anaheim Meeting (just passed) – appointed by the Education Committee and SPA Board of Directors (BOD). This position required me to work with the program chairs and SPA leadership to review all PBLDs, assign peer review, ensure quality of peer review, select those to be presented at the meeting, and assist with revising some submissions into the innovative newly introduced Seminar format. I have also taken on creating new guidelines for future PBLD submissions to clarify what constitutes a high-quality PBLD and creating a more equitable submission process for our society membership.
2022-Present: I serve as the SPA BOD Liaison from the SPA WELI Board of Directors. I was appointed by the WELI Board as the WELI Board member to attend SPA BOD meetings to represent WELI and the goals of the initiative as it relates to SPA leadership activities. In addition, I serve as a liaison between WELI and the SPA BOD to ensure relevant information is communicated to WELI, which helps with planning for future WELI initiatives.
2021-Present: SPA WELI Board of Directors, Liaison to the SPA Board and Education Committee member:: elected as a Member At Large. I work as part of the team to serve members (both mentors and protegés) by designing programming, choosing and researching workshop and WELI Speas presenters, participating in mentor/protegé dyad matching, and being involved in working toward the advancement of the initiative both within SPA and outside of the society.
2021-Present: I am the Founder and first Chair of the (now joint) SPA-SPPM Integrative Medicine SIG. I created/founded the first SPA Integrative Medicine SIG with a focus on education, collaboration and research. In 2024 we expanded the SIG to span both SPA and SPPM and have improved our engagement and membership and have since tripled in size with plans to start multicenter collaborative research in the near future.
2020-Present: I serve as a SPA Physician Wellness Committee Member since its inception. I have had significant roles in the Education Subcommittee by creating pieces of the curriculum for the Second Victim/Peer Support content that has now been produced/rolled out.
2020-Present: I am an active member of the SPA Education Committee. I assist with planning meetings, PBLD peer review, and educational session development for SPA meetings with the goal of taking my recent Program Shadow experience to being a Program Chair for a future meeting.
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
2022-Present: – I am an active member of the Canadian Pediatric Anesthesia Society (CPAS). I am active at meetings, have been a workshop leader and poster moderator. I am also a member of the CPAS Scientific Committee. I spend a considerable amount of my energy in CPAS promoting stronger
connections between SPA and the CPAS.
2020-Present:I am a member of the ASA Committee of Pediatric Anesthesia and the ASA Educational Track Subcommittee on Pediatric Anesthesia. I have been a consistent contributor to pediatric anesthesia programming at ASA meetings, as well as a dedicated volunteer Abstract reviewer and Poster Session Moderator.
2018-Present: I am a member of the American Association of Pediatrics Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Section on Integrative Medicine. I have been involved with these two sections for almost 10 years and have been the Co-Chair of the Communications Committee of the Section on Integrative Medicine since 2020.
2018-Present: I am a member of the American Association of Pediatrics Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Section on Integrative Medicine. I have been involved with these 2 sections for a >5 years and have been the Co-Chair of the Communications Committee of the Section on Integrative Medicine since 2020.
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
SPA-SPPM Integrative Medicine (IM) SIG: I founded the SPA IM SIG in 2021 after being approached by members who felt there was not yet an interest group for SPA members who wanted to expand their knowledge of integrative techniques to improve the experiences of patients and their families when
they come for procedures. In 2024, the SIG expanded to span both SPA and SPPM and I now co-chair the group with Amber Borucki and James Xie. Since the expansion, our membership has more than tripled, and we are active in educational initiative and are starting to plan mutli-center collaborative
research alongside the internationally regarded Bravenet Integrative Medicine Research Collaborative.
Principal Investigator for Multicenter Research Programs – I am currently the site PI for 3 large, international, multicenter collaborative research projects. This involves creating and executing local procedures and protocols to carry out these large studies in accordance with our local requirements and practices, as well as making sure data and methods are consistent with those agreed upon by all centers and stakeholders. I work with primary site leaders, our local research personnel, and the personnel from institutions all over the world on these projects to maintain standards set by us, the researchers.
Leadership experience
Co-Director, BCCH Pediatric Anesthesia Research Team (PART) – In my current role as Co-Director of the BCCH PART, I manage a research team of approximately 12 people (professionally employed staff, full and part time research assistants) to support and operationalize the research endeavors of our entire department. A large aspect of this role is to create and maintain a robust hive of enthusiastic, skilled individuals who can provide guidance and support to clinician-scientists performing research amongst several themes (pharmacologic, technologic, educational, QA/QI). I also co-lead the efforts to grow the footprint of our program within and outside of our research institute by initiating collaborations amongst local, regional and international parties who have a stake in pediatric anesthesia research. Unlike many other pediatric anesthesia research teams, I also teach and support interested staff anesthesiologists who may not have much experience in research but are interested in learning more about project design and execution so that they can pursue their own passions and projects. My major goal at PART is to help my partners and colleagues be “set up for success” in their research endeavors, regardless of their previous experience or their specific topic of interest, while maintaining my own robust research program centering on personalized perioperative patient preparation through the use of digital health technologies.
Residency Clinical Competency Committee Co-Chair – After being the immediate-past RSC at BCCH (please see below) I became a co-chair of the UBC Residency Program’s Clinical Competency Committee. In this role I lead a team of 40 anesthesia faculty from sites all across British Columbia in assessing and supporting the 100 trainees in the UBC Anesthesia Residency Program.
Residency Site Coordinator (RSC), BCCH (2022-2025) –As the immediate-past RSC I oversaw the educational and logistical experience for all of the trainees that rotate through the pediatric anesthesia rotations at our hospital. We welcome all of the UBC anesthesia residents (40 to BCCH each year), the
BCCH PICU fellows (approx. 10/yr), the BCCH Peds ED fellows (4/yr), the UBC Peds dental fellows (3/yr), local BC paramedics, staff anesthesiologists practicing in rural communities, and others. Each group has its own educational priorities, training requirements, and curriculum. I ensured that the needs of these learners are being met in accordance with the various requirements of their professional educational standards, and that they are having a supported, meaningful experience.
Christy Johnson Crockett, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
Nashville, TN
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Pediatric Anesthesiologist
Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Medical Director of Children’s Anesthesia
Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital PACU Medical Director
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
University of North Carolina at Charlotte College of Arts and Sciences, Charlotte, NC
B.S. in Biology, Summa Cum Laude with Honors in Biology in 2005
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
M.D., Doctor of Medicine with Distinction (Honors), 2009
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
Categorical Internship in Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 2009-2010; completed 06/2010
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
Residency in Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, Completed July 2013, Dates of Training 07/2010 – 07/2013
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
Fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, 08/2013 – 08/2014; completed August 2014
Name and City/State of Hospital/University where additional training was completed; type and dates of training
Additional training in the Intermediate Improvement Science Series (I2S2) Course, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, The James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence; Cincinnati, OH, 09/2016 – 06/2017
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
- Member of the Society of Pediatric Anesthesiology Special Interest Group – Pediatric Difficult Intubation Registry; I am PI at VCH for this national collaboration/registry – 11/2019 – Present
- Active Member of the Society of Pediatric Anesthesiology Quality and Safety Committee – 02/2020 – Present
- Noise in OR Subgroup/Taskforce of SPA Quality and Safety Committee – 02/2021 – Present
- I am the Co-Chair (and member) of this subgroup for the SPA Q&S Committee (created by myself and other co-chair after being invited by the SPA Q&S Committee Leader at the SPA annual meeting 2/28/2021). We meet approximately monthly to discuss Noise in the OR topics and plan/organize international projects addressing Noise and Distractions in the OR
- Co-Chair, 2/2021 – present
- Noise in OR Subgroup/Taskforce of SPA Quality and Safety Committee – 02/2021 – Present
- SPA Wake Up Safe, Associate Member – 08/2024 – Present
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
Anesthesiology Performance Improvement and Reporting Exchange (ASPIRE) / Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) – Pediatric Anesthesia Subcommittee Member – 02/2020 – Present
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
- As SPA Quality and Safety Committee Noise in the OR Taskforce Co-Chair– I collaborate with taskforce members internationally on evaluating and addressing noise in the operating room. I collaborated with others on the taskforce with creating, analyzing, and publishing our survey of perceptions of pediatric anesthesiologists on noise in the OR internationally. Together we completed the project, published our results in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, and presented at multiple scientific meetings nationally and internationally including the 9th European Healthcare Design Conference at The Royal College of Physicians in London, United Kingdom in June 2023.
- As a member of the SPA Pediatric Difficult Intubation Collaborative Special Interest Group – I collaborate with other members of the group to refine and research the international database/registry on pediatric difficult intubations. I collaborated with this group to publish a recent manuscript on complications on the weekends versus weekdays in difficult intubation patients in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.
- I have collaborated with multidisciplinary people locally, nationally, and internationally on multiple research and quality improvement projects. With several of these projects we collaborated to improve systems, processes, and patient care. Together, we created and published manuscripts in different peer reviewed journals nationally and internationally. I have collaborated with anesthesiologists and noise specialists on these projects and to give international presentations at scientific meetings regarding noise and distractions in the operating room including participating in panels in London, England and Nice, France:
- 9th European Healthcare Design Conference at The Royal College of Physicians in London, SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange; London, United Kingdom. Hala ElKhorazatay; Eve Edelstein PhD, F-AAA; Adrian Upex, MD; Amelia Davies; Robert Brustowicz, MD; Priti G Dalal, MD, FRCA; Imelda Tjia, MD; Margaret Allen, MD; Christy J Crockett, MD. Invited to participate in this Panel Presentation given on 2023 June 13; Titled: Clinical Perspectives: Enhanced Collaboration for Innovative Operating Theatres.
- 15th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2024) at The Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France, July 24-27, 2024. 2024 July 24. I gave a presentation and participated on the panel for the 1.5 hour session. Session Name: Sounding Better: Alarms and Soundscapes in Healthcare
Leadership experience
| 07/2021 – Present | Medical Director, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital (Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt) |
| 02/2021 – Present | Co-Chair of SPA Quality and Safety Committee’s Noise in OR Subgroup/Taskforce |
| 02/2026 – Present | Medical Director of Children’s Anesthesia (MDCA) Children’s Surgery Verification Program Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital (Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt) |
Chris D Glover, MD, MBA, FASA
Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Associate Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, Texas Children’s Hospital
Professor of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, 1996
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, Doctor of Medicine, 2000
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals, Houston, Texas, Transitional Internship, 2000–2001
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals, Houston, Texas, Anesthesiology Residency, 2001–2004
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
Baylor College of Medicine / Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship, 2004–2005
Name and City/State of Hospital/University where additional training was completed
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, Master of Business Administration (MBA), 2014–2016
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
- Active member of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Communications Committee since 2008-2016.
- Former President (2020–2021) and Executive Committee member (2016–2021) of the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group (PCCG).
- Workshop faculty member for Advanced Regional Anesthesia Workshop in some iteration since 2014.
- PALC Member 2023-current.
- SPA Education Executive Committee 2024-current.
Involvement with other organizations
American Society of Anesthesiologists:
- Chair, Committee on Professional Development (COPD) October 2025 – current.
- Vice-Chair, Committee on Professional Development (2022–2023present);
- Committee Member, Committee on Economics (COE)
- Chair, ASA Medicaid Taskforce – COE .
Texas Society of Anesthesiologists: District Delegate (2015–present);
- Chair, Economics Committee (2020–present).
- Member, Government Affairs Committee (2018-current).
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
As Associate Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, I routinely align stakeholders across our 4 campuses to implement standardized clinical protocols, staffing models, and quality initiatives. My work leading and collaborating across multicenter research collaboratives such as Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group and as workshop coordinator for the Advanced Regional Anesthesia Workshop for SPA serve as proxies reflecting my desire to be inclusive. I have been explicit in getting guidance and feedback from collaborators on who to include to further foster mentorship and faculty development for those in the SPA with a strong interest in regional anesthesia.
I am also deeply committed to mentorship and education, working closely with medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty to foster professional growth and a culture of continuous improvement. My approach emphasizes allyship, advocacy, clear communication, and bilateral accountability focusing on developing trust across teams. These interpersonal skills have been critical in advancing both clinical operations and academic initiatives at the institutional and national level.
Leadership experience
- Associate Anesthesiologist-in-Chief overseeing anesthesia services across a large pediatric health system.
- National leadership roles in ASA and TSA.
Travis L. Reece-Nguyen, MD, MPH, FASA, FAAP
Stanford Children’s Hospital
Stanford, California
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Medical Director | Gender Recognition and Affirmative Care through Education Program, Stanford Healthcare
Director of LGBTQ+ Faculty and Community | Office of Academic Affairs, Stanford Medicine
Director of LGBTQ+ Health | Office of Community Engagement, Stanford Department of Anesthesiology
Clinical Associate Professor | Stanford Department of Anesthesiology
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
B.S. Neuroscience and B.S. Biology, 2004-2007, Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, Louisiana
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
M.D. with Distinction in Research, 2010-2014, University of Texas – Health Sciences Center – San Antonio (UTHSCSA), San Antonio, Texas
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
Categorical Anesthesiology intern year, UW Department of Anesthesiology, 2014-2015, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
University of Washington Department of Anesthesiology, 2015-2018, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship, 2018-2019, Stanford Children’s Hospital, Stanford, California
Name and City/State of Hospital/University where additional training was completed; type and dates of training
Master of Public Health, Concentration in Global Health, 2010-2014, University of Texas – Houston, School of Public Health
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
- SPA Board of Directors, DEI Liaison (non-voting Board member) (8/2022->present, 4yr term):
- Attended and participated in Board of Directors meetings over past 4 years
- Participated in initial stages of SPA 5-yr Strategic Planning preparation and focus groups
- Provided official biannual Committee Reports to the Board
- Represented DEI/CORE committee when requesting funding from the Board
- Provided DEI expertise and perspective to SPA Executive Leadership team when navigating challenging national situations and policies
- Represented DEI/CORE committee as member of Committee on Professional and Public Advocacy
- National Vice-Chair, DEI Committee (2020–2022):
- Created and helped lead national DEI committee 5yr strategic plan
- Increased committee membership and initiatives
- Led first ever SPA membership DEI survey and analysis
- Represented DEI committee as member of Committee on Public and Professional Affairs
- National Chair, DEI/CORE Committee (2022–present; 4-year term):
- Oversight of all national DEI collaborations and initiatives in education, research, quality improvement, and mentoring
- Developed new mentorship program that offers trainee scholarships to attend national meeting
- Helped lead the mission-driven mentoring program (MDMP) which provides research grants and mentorship to junior faculty to support DEI research and faculty development
- Committee on Public and Professional Affairs (2021-2022):
- DEI committee representative tasked with any public-facing messaging, policy approval, and/or support statements released by the SPA.
- Committee on Professionalism and Public Advocacy (2024-present):
- Founding member of new Advocacy committee for SPA
- Tasked with helping select local charities to support during national meetings and approving support statements (i.e. SPA officially signing-on to AAP vaccine schedule)
- Faculty Mentor, SPA-CORE Building Community Mentorship Program (2024–present)
- Mentoring 4 medical students across the country interested in Pediatric Anesthesiology
- SPA-GLOBAL member (2021-present)
- Contribute to global anesthesia collaborations and outreach
- International faculty for Rwanda’s new Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program
- National Speaker/Faculty/Moderator
- Taught numerous SPA national lectures, workshops, panels, and PBLDs at SPA meetings
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
- International Lecturer – Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (APAGBI) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting – Edinburgh, Scotland (5/2025)
- Member, AAP – Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine (2018-present)
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
My collaborative approach is grounded in building inclusive, multidisciplinary partnerships that drive meaningful change. I currently lead and contribute to initiatives that require coordination across clinical, educational, and administrative domains where I work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing staff, and institutional leadership to improve care delivery for gender-diverse patients. This work also involves extensive interprofessional collaboration, including delivering educational programming across the entire hospital system, as well as facilitating institutional initiatives with senior leadership committees. Outside of Stanford, as National Co-Director of a multicenter research collaborative, I help facilitate collaboration among numerous institutions, which requires effective communication, consensus-building, and shared leadership across diverse stakeholders. I was also selected by the ASA President to serve as Vice-Chair for the inaugural LGBTQ+ Ad Hoc Committee, based on my track record of bringing people together, creating community, and building large, collaborative programs from scratch. Mentorship is another core aspect of my interpersonal skill set. I actively mentor trainees through SPA and ASA programs, as well as institutional and global health pathways, fostering professional development and supporting future leaders in pediatric anesthesiology. Internationally, I have collaborated with WFSA and ASA partners in India, Vietnam, and Rwanda to support education and capacity-building, further strengthening my ability to work effectively across cultures and systems. These experiences reflect my ability to build trust, navigate complex systems, and lead collaborative efforts at local, national, and international levels.
Leadership experience
- Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Leadership
- Committee Chair, Community, Opportunity, Recruitment, and Engagement (CORE) Committee (formerly SPA-DEI Committee) (2022–present)
- Board of Directors, DEI Liaison, non-voting member (2022–present)
- Committee Vice-Chair, SPA-DEI Committee (2019-2022)
Other National Leadership
- Co–Vice Chair, American Society of Anesthesiologists LGBTQ+ Ad Hoc Committee (2023–present)
- Co-Director, Perioperative Anesthesiology Registry for Transgender Adults and Youth (PARTAY) Collaborative (2023–present)
Institutional Leadership (Stanford)
- Medical Director, Gender Recognition & Affirmative Care through Education Program (2022–present)
- Director of LGBTQ+ Health, Dept. of Anesthesiology (2023–present)
- Director of LGBTQ+ Faculty & Community, Stanford Healthcare (2024–present)
- Research & Education Leader, Accessible Care Committee (2025–present)
Educational Leadership
- Co-Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology International Course (2020–2023)
- Co-Director, Fellowship Diversity Curriculum (2021–present)
- Course Director, Gender-Affirming Communication Training (2024–present)
- Lead Educator, Gender Recognition and Affirmative Care through Education Program (2022-present)
Kim Strupp, MD, FAAP
Children’s Hospital Colorado / University of Colorado
Aurora, CO
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology; Clinical Quality Director
Program Director for Pediatric Perioperative Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Fellowship
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI; Honors BS, 2004
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; MD, 2008
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
Gundersen Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, WI; Transitional year, 2009
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; 2009-2012
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; 2012-2013
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
Active member of the SPA Quality & Safety Committee; currently serve as Associate Vice Chair and Co-Chair of the Checklist Subcommittee. Led development and dissemination of pediatric perioperative checklists including development of the Pedi Crisis app, international translation efforts, and ongoing reviews. Contributed to SPA educational initiatives focused on crisis resource management, cognitive aids, and patient safety.
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
Active member of Wake Up Safe for over 10 years; institutional site representative (2020–present). Participate in national patient safety data sharing, case review, and dissemination of quality improvement initiatives. Institutional QI work has been regularly presented at national meetings. Served on the Wake Up Safe nominating committee. Plan to continue leadership in national patient safety and quality improvement collaborations.
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
Lead multidisciplinary QI initiatives involving anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, and hospital leadership. Experienced in building consensus across teams and institutions, with a focus on clear communication, psychological safety, and practical implementation. Regularly collaborate on multi-institutional projects and mentor trainees and faculty in QI and patient safety work.
Leadership experience
Clinical Quality Director, Division of Pediatric Anesthesia, Children’s Hospital Colorado (current). Lead division-wide quality improvement and patient safety initiatives and mentor faculty and trainees. National leadership through SPA Quality & Safety Committee, including checklist development and dissemination. Experienced in translating strategic goals into scalable, high-impact clinical programs.
Brad M Taicher, DO, MBA
Children’s National Hospital
Washington, DC
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Chief of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. BA 1999
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. DO, 2006
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
Delaware County Memorial Hospital, Drexel Hill, PA. 7/2006 – 6/2007
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training
Thomas Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. 7/2007 – 6/2010
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. 7/2010 – 6/2011
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
- SPA Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group – Member – 2012-2026
- Executive Committee, Member at Large – 2017-2022
- Executive Committee, Chair – 2022-2026
- SPA Pediatric Difficult Intubation Collaborative – Member – 2013-present
- SPA Quality and Safety Committee – Member – 2013-present
- Polling Subcommittee, Chair – 2019-2022
- Executive Committee, Associate Vice Chair – 2022-present
- SPA Bioinformatics Committee – Member – 2013-present
- SPA WELI – Member – 2025-present
- PALC – Member – 2024-present
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
- Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group
- Pediatric Anesthesia Subcommittee – Member, 2019-present
- Pediatric Anesthesia Subcommittee – Co-Chair, 2019-2022
- Pediatric Anesthesia Subcommittee – Chair, 2022-2024
- Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation
- Perioperative Multicenter Handoff Collaborative – Member – 2019-present
- Patient Safety Advisory Committee – Clinician Safety – Member – 2022-present
- Patient Safety Advisory Committee – Medication Safety – Member – 2022-present
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
Collaboration has been central to my work, both within my institution and through my engagement with SPA. I thrive in team-based environments that bring together diverse perspectives—surgeons, nurses, trainees, and administrators—to solve complex problems and improve patient care. My approach is grounded in active listening, mutual respect, and clear communication, with a focus on building trust and aligning teams around shared goals. Whether working to standardize clinical practices or facilitate difficult conversations around change, I aim to create an environment where all voices are heard and where collaboration leads to meaningful, patient-centered outcomes.
My involvement in SPA has been especially rewarding in this regard. What I value most about SPA is its welcoming, collegial community, where members are genuinely invested in one another’s success and in advancing pediatric anesthesiology together. Through committee work and national collaboration, I have had the opportunity to connect with colleagues across institutions, share ideas, and learn from leaders throughout the field. I would be excited to continue building these relationships and contributing to the collaborative spirit that makes SPA such a special and impactful organization.
Leadership experience
Children’s National Hospital – Chief of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine
Duke Anesthesiology – Director of Quality and Safety
Duke Anesthesiology – Assistant Director of Anesthesia Perioperative Operations
Duke Anesthesiology – Medical Director for Quality and Safety for Children’s Anesthesia
Duke Anesthesiology – Medical Director for Pediatric Perioperative Services
Samuel David Yanofsky, MD, MSEd, ACC
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Hospital/Institutional Titles
Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and Medical Education
Vice Chair for Medical Education and Professional Development
Department of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Name and City/State of College attended; degree and year obtained
Marianopolis College, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – DCS, 1984
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – BSc, 1987
Name and City/State of Medical School attended, degree and year obtained
St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO – MD, 1991
Name and City/State of Hospital where Internship was completed; type and dates attended; degree and year obtained
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY – Surgical Internship, 1991–1992
Name and City/State of Hospital where Anesthesiology Residency was completed; dates of training.
University of Connecticut Health Center, Hartford, CT – Anesthesiology Residency, 1994–1997
Name and City/State of Hospital where Fellowship training was completed; type and dates of Fellowship
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA – Pediatric Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, 1997–1999 (Chief Fellow 1998–1999)
Name and City/State of Hospital/University where additional training was completed
University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, Los Angeles, CA – MSEd, 2004
Fielding Graduate University – Certification in Evidence-Based Coaching and Trauma-Informed Coaching, 2022
Prior involvement in SPA (Board, Committee, etc.)
Active member of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia with extensive leadership involvement, including:
- President, Pediatric Anesthesiology Program Directors Association (2014–2016)
- Member, SPA Education Committee
- Member, SPA Executive Education Committee
- Leadership roles in SPA well-being initiatives, including mentorship in establishing physician well-being efforts
- Member, Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (WELI), contributing to leadership curriculum design
Involvement with other national/international (pediatric) anesthesia organizations
- Board of Directors, Secretary – Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA)
- Former Board Member – Society for Education in Anesthesia
- Former Chair, Presently member, Education Meetings Committee – SEA
- Former Chair, Research Education Committee – SEA
- Member, ASA committees and national education initiatives
- Active contributor to national faculty development, leadership, and well-being programming
- Frequent invited speaker and workshop leader at SEA, SPA, ASA, and international medical education conferences
Examples of your collaborative and interpersonal skills
Dr. Yanofsky is recognized for his collaborative leadership style, fostering psychologically safe learning environments and interdisciplinary teamwork. He has led multi-institutional initiatives in physician well-being, faculty development, and leadership training, including the SPA Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Initiative and national coaching and mentorship programs. His work emphasizes relationship-centered leadership, effective communication, and the integration of coaching principles to enhance team performance and professional development.
Leadership experience
Dr. Yanofsky has held numerous leadership roles at institutional and national levels, including:
- Vice Chair for Medical Education and Professional Development, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- Program Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship
- Former Residency Director, Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine
- President, Pediatric Anesthesiology Program Directors Association
- Secretary, Board of Directors, Society for Education in Anesthesia
- Leader of national initiatives in medical education, faculty development, coaching, and physician well-being
His leadership focuses on advancing competency-based education, fostering professional development, and driving culture change within healthcare systems.