Suwarna Anand, MD

Specialties: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology

Gender: Female

Biography: Suwarna Anand is a board-certified Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist who completed her residency in Henry Ford Health System and fellowship training at Yale University. She specializes in the perioperative management of patients undergoing complex cardiac, thoracic, major vascular, and organ transplant surgeries. She is also a board-certified Transesophageal Echocardiographer (TEE), leveraging advanced echocardiographic expertise to guide intraoperative decision-making and support structural heart interventions, including atrial septal defect closure, left atrial appendage occlusion, and transcatheter mitral and aortic valve procedures.
A strong advocate for enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), Dr. Anand has played a key role in advancing perioperative patient outcomes through multimodal analgesia and regional anesthesia techniques for Cardiac surgery. Her expertise includes upper and lower extremity nerve blocks as well as fascial plane blocks for thoracic and abdominal procedures, helping optimize pain management, facilitate early recovery, and improve overall surgical experience.
Dr. Anand's expertise in transplant anesthesiology was instrumental in helping establish UMMC's successful liver transplant program, contributing to the development of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary transplant service recognized for delivering high-quality patient care.
Dedicated to academic medicine and physician education, Dr. Anand is actively involved in the education and mentorship of anesthesiology residents and cardiothoracic anesthesia fellows. Her commitment to teaching has been recognized through multiple Teacher of the Year awards, as well as the School of Medicine's Trailblazer Teaching Award. In addition to her educational contributions, she has successfully mentored residents and fellows in developing podium and poster presentations presented at leading national conferences, including the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Annual Meeting and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting.
Beyond her clinical and educational responsibilities, Dr. Anand has demonstrated strong leadership in quality improvement and institutional initiatives. She spearheaded the Perioperative Glycemic Control Program, chaired the Perioperative Normothermia Project, and contributed to the UMMC Antibiotic Stewardship Program. She serves on the UMMC Staff Credentialing Committee, the School of Medicine Interview Committee, and the Residency Review Subcommittee.
At the national level, Dr. Anand has contributed to advancing the specialty through service on the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Transplant Committee, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Perioperative Medicine Abstract Review Subcommittee, and the ASA Cardiac Anesthesia Education Track Subcommittee. Within her department, she continues to serve on several key committees, including the Clinical Competency Committee (CCC) and the Promotion and Tenure Committee.
Dr. Anand currently serves as the Program Director of the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship and the Director of the Anesthesia Transplant Program. In these leadership roles, she is responsible for advancing fellowship education, fostering academic excellence, promoting innovation in perioperative care, and strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration to improve patient outcomes.