Congratulations!
Our department is full of wonderful and engaging faculty, staff, and trainees who are being recognized on campus, in our community, and nationally for their outstanding work and character. We would like to start recognizing awards and achievements of everyone in the department in every issue of the newsletter.
Dr. Patricia Amolenda will be assuming the role of the Assistant Program Director for the Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship program. Dr. Amolenda joined our department in 2019 as an Assistant Professor after completing residency here at UMMC followed by a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology from Cincinnati Children’s hospital. Dr. Amolenda has been heavily invested in the education of our residents and fellows and has been leading simulation activities in Sanderson. Congratulations to Dr. Amolenda!
Drs. Suwarna Anand, Lakshmi Kurnutala, Patrick Newman, Latoya Mason, Anand Prem, Hess Robertson were inducted into the Academy for Excellence in Education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The Academy is a community of the most accomplished educators across all seven schools that comprise UMMC. The mission of The Academy is to enhance the learning environment of all schools at UMMC through the following: support and recognition of outstanding educators; development of a community of dedicated educators; and promotion of educational excellence, innovation, leadership, and scholarship. Since its inception last year, The Academy has sponsored social events, including an evening at the Mississippi Museum of Art, engaging presentations on the use of Artificial Intelligence in education and on preparing a Systematic Review, as well as the first annual Rob Rockhold Lecture.
Drs. Lakshmi Kurnutula and Adriana Martini received IRB approval for the STARGATE study, an international, multi-center trial. This is an observational study to assess airway management that will be launched soon in our operating rooms as well as NORA sites.
Kudos to the anesthesia team involved in the first LITT (laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy For Brain tumors/Epilepsy case—Drs. Lakshmi Kurnutala, Chris Dos Santos, and Josh Irby and Paige Panter, CRNA.
Congratulations to Blake Ward, CRNA and Juli Johnson, CRNA on receiving 20 year UMMC Service pins!
Congratulations to Brennan Sloan, our new CRNA Neuro Coordinator, and Alex Toth, our new CRNA Ortho Coordinator!
Thank you to Ransom Jones, CRNA, for volunteering at the Sanderson Farms Championship Golf Tournament in October 2023. Another million dollars raised for Children’s of Mississippi!
Congratulations to Blake Sowers for receiving 2nd place for Best Abstract at Trauma Anesthesiology Conference 2023 in San Francisco.
About a year ago, the CRNA council created the Heather Taylor Memorial Award to honor Heather's legacy and the impact she had on our department. This annual award is given to a SRNA who most encompasses the traits she possessed. Congratulations to the inaugural recipient, Eric Allen! The inscription on the plaque reads: “Awarded to a SRNA who demonstrates diligence, excellence, and dedication to the field of anesthesia while encompassing compassion, benevolence, and virtue towards patients and colleagues”.
Dr. Sara Robertson was awarded the Nurse Anesthesia Program Physician Preceptor of the Year by the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice at their most recent graduation ceremony.
Just last week, Dr. Latoya Mason-Bolden launched her recording of an original musical song titled, "He's The Wonderful One". It's available on Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, and other major music streaming platforms. The link is below https://youtu.be/YOqLoUH9xnA?si=SWhIpNIX-R9e_p7W
She has also earned badges in Basic Medical Spanish and Introduction to Practice of Mindfulness through UMMC's Department of Professional Development.