News & Events

Dr. Heather Lander Highlighted in ASA Monitor

Monday, May 11, 2026

ASA Monitor highlighted Dr. Heather Lander in the May issue, bringing national recognition to the outstanding perioperative optimization work being done by the Center for Perioperative Medicine team.

Professor Andrew Wojtovich Appointed Vice Chair of Basic Science Research, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

Thursday, May 7, 2026

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Professor Andrew Wojtovich to Vice Chair of Basic Science Research, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.
 
This position recognizes the huge impact that Professor Wojtovich has made to basic science in our department and the University. 

He is a Full Professor with tenure at the University of Rochester  and has been successful in maintaining and growing NIH funding and his lab space and PhDs. 

He is Director of the new Mitochondrial and Metabolic Research Center.

Andrew Wojtovich (https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/labs/wojtovich.aspx)  is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He earned his B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and his M.A. in Biotechnology from Boston University. Dr. Wojtovich completed his Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of Rochester, where he also conducted postdoctoral research before joining the Department of Anesthesiology. His research focuses on using optogenetics to investigate the role of site-specific reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and energy generation in mitochondrial physiology and hypoxic stress signaling.

Dr. Wojtovich leads the Mitochondrial and Metabolic Research Center (MMRC; https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/labs/mitochondrial-and-metabolic-research-center) at the University of Rochester. The MMRC brings together basic scientists and physician-scientists to advance understanding in mitochondrial biology, metabolism, and translational medicine, with the goal of improving patient outcomes. Collaborating with principal investigators Dr. Paul Brookes, Dr. Gail Johnson, Dr. Michael J. Scott, and Dr. Laurent G. Glance, the MMRC provides a centralized framework for research and collaboration in mitochondrial biology and metabolism across the University.
 

Dr. Scott Senior Author on Global ERAS Guidelines for Trauma Surgery

Monday, April 27, 2026

Our Chair Dr Mike Scott was senior author on the Global ERAS Guidelines for Trauma Surgery last year. The 3 papers were groundbreaking in being the first to address the evidence base across the whole continuum of trauma.

At the International Surgical Week in Mexico City  April 11-17th 2026 the Editor in Chief of the World Journal of Surgery showed that the 3 papers were the Journal’s top most cited papers in the last year.

Dr Scott presented the Trauma guidelines with the group of co-authors (pictured) and also presented on pathophysiology of injury and the importance of nutrition in Trauma.

Drs. Glance, Wu, Wyrobek , Scott, and Colleagues Published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Friday, April 17, 2026

Current guidelines do not recommend transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in adults younger than 65 years with isolated aortic stenosis and a life expectancy >10 years.  Drs. Glance, Wu, Wyrobek , Scott, and colleagues from cardiac surgery, cardiology,  RAND Health, and Washington University published a study in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

This study showed that nearly half of the lowest-risk patients (mortality <0.5%) under the age of 65 underwent TAVR instead of SAVR. These findings suggest that practice patterns and non-clinical factors may influence procedure selection in this population.

Two mentees represented Dr. Gewandter’s team at the annual meeting of the United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP) in Philadelphia, PA.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Mohammad Bohsali, MD (URMC Anesthesia Postdoc fellow), and Anna-Luisa Pötzsch (MD/PhD student) presented posters at the United States Association for the Study of Pain Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

Anna-Luisa received a partial travel award and was invited to deliver both a "Rapid Fire Poster Pitch" at the USASP Early Career Forum and a Data Blitz oral presentation at the CTRE (Clinical and Translational Research Early Career) Special Interest Group to present her work.

Poster topics were: 
"Complementary Therapy Utilization, Interest, and Barriers in Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study"
"Reference Area Sensory Hypersensitivity And Its Links To Psychological Symptoms" 

Dr. Papadakos Published in Injury

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Dr. Peter Papadakos, Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, along with colleagues in the Orthopedics Department, published a research paper in Injury, “Duration of Intensive Care Unit Admission to Maintain Mean Arterial Pressure Goals Following Acute Traumatic Spinal Injury”.

  Link:  Volume 57, Issue 6 
 

Dr. Papadakos Quoted in Anesthesiology News

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Dr. Peter Papadakos, Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, was quoted in the cover story of Anesthesiology News, “Operating Under Observation: Privacy And Professionalism in a Recorded OR”.

Link: Patient Privacy and Professionalism in Recorded Operating Rooms

Summer Research in the Department

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Undergraduate researchers in the Johnson Lab and Wojtovich Lab have been recognized with grants to support their summer research projects. Ella Blau received the prestigious DeKiewiet Fellowship, while Samantha Magowo, Samuel Fieldson, and Tyler Hancock were each awarded Discover Grants to further their research endeavors.

Congrats!

Dr. Gewandter Interviewed For Yoga Medicine

Friday, April 10, 2026

Dr. Gewandter interviewed for Yoga Medicine Podcst on the benefits of Yoga for managing chronic pain.

Click on the link below to listen to the podcast.

https://yogamedicine.com/yoga-research-pain/

Dr. Gewandter Speaks at International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Webinar

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Dr. Gewandter speaks in an International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) webinar on using clinical trial evidence in precision medicine. 

The full webinar can be viewed by registering at the link below.
https://perc.iasp-pain.org/products/towards-precision-medicine-in-neuropathic-pain-1-using-randomised-trial-evidence-to-uncover-individual-treatment-effects#tab-product_tab_speaker_s
 

Dr. Papadakos Published in Healio

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Check out Dr. Peter Papadakos, Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, recent article in Healio “GLP-1’s Medical Breakthrough Must Be Balanced With Pancreatitis Risk”.

Link: GLP-1 benefits must be balanced with pancreatitis risk

Bob Dworkin and ACTTION Receive Grant and Publish in Nature Mental Health

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Robert Dworkin, PhD, and his ACTTION colleagues have just received $315,000 for their psychedelic initiative from a philanthropy that supports biomedical research.

These funds will be used for preparing and publishing evidence-based recommendations for designing, conducting, and interpreting clinical trials of psilocybin, LSD, and other psychedelic drugs for the treatment of various medical conditions, including chronic pain.
 
Also as part of ACTTION’s psychedelic efforts, Bob and his colleagues have just had the following article accepted for publication:
 
Singleton SP, Sevchik BL, Lahey L, Cuijpers P, Harrer M, Jones MT, Nayak SM, Strain EC, Vandekar SN, Dworkin RH, Scott JC, Satterthwaite TD. A living systematic review, meta-analysis, and open data resource of randomized-controlled trials of psilocybin treatment for symptoms of depression. Nature Mental Health, in press

Drs. Majeed, McPhee, Kreso, Pyne and Ikpot featured in Sphere

Friday, March 6, 2026

Members of our Ambulatory Division are highlighted in Sphere in the article "Reducing OR Delays by Optimizing the Regional Anesthesia Team in an Orthopedic Ambulatory Surgery Center: A Quality Improvement Project" for their work at the Ambulatory Orthopedic Surgery Center.

Their project reduced OR delays, boosted efficiency, and enhanced education for our residents, supporting growth in patient volume and regional anesthesia. 

Center for Perioperative Medicine Well Represented at SPAQI Annual Meeting

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

The Center for Perioperative Medicine had a strong presence at the recent Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) Annual Meeting. A total of 14 multidisciplinary team members from the URMC Department of Anesthesiology attended and contributed across the program through numerous posters, keynote sessions, PBLDs, and breakout discussions, demonstrating the depth of perioperative scholarship and collaboration within our division. In addition, several resident, APP, and faculty posters from our group were presented.

The meeting also brought several notable recognitions:

• Dr. Marjorie Gloff earned the Distinguished Fellow of Perioperative Medicine (DFPM) designation, recognizing emerging leadership in perioperative medicine.
• Renee Robinson, DNP, APRN-C was appointed Chair of the SPAQI Perioperative Collaborative Practice Committee, supporting multidisciplinary engagement across perioperative care teams.
• Dr. Sarah Khan (CA-1) received the Best Perioperative Clinical Vignettes Poster Award for her presentation on the perioperative management of a patient with severe idiopathic angioedema.
• Dr. Heather Lander was named SPAQI Early Career Perioperative Physician of the Year, recognizing leadership and contributions to perioperative medicine.
• Dr. Curtis Benesch, Professor of Neurology, delivered a keynote presentation on perioperative considerations in patients with stroke.

Please join us in congratulating our colleagues on these outstanding accomplishments and for representing the Center for Perioperative Medicine so strongly at SPAQI

Dr. Marjorie Gloff Earns Distinguished Fellow of Perioperative Medicine (DFPM)

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Marjorie Gloff has been awarded the Distinguished Fellow of Perioperative Medicine (DFPM) designation through the Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI). This one-year fellowship recognizes emerging leaders with the expertise to advance perioperative medicine, lead multidisciplinary teams, and develop impactful quality improvement initiatives.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Gloff on this outstanding achievement

Dr. Heather Lander Named SPAQI Early Career Perioperative Physician of the Year

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

The Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) promotes professional development and recognizes excellence in the interdisciplinary field of perioperative medicine through its annual Society Awards program.

We are proud to share that Dr. Heather Lander has been selected as the SPAQI Early Career Perioperative Physician of the Year, recognizing her contributions to perioperative clinical care, education, and leadership.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Lander on this national recognition.

Dr. Sarah Khan (CA-1) Wins Best Perioperative Clinical Vignettes Poster Award at SPAQI

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

We are proud to share that Dr. Sarah Khan received the Best Perioperative Clinical Vignettes Poster Award at the Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) Annual Meeting. Dr. Khan was recognized for her presentation describing the perioperative management of a patient with severe idiopathic angioedema and the coordinated clinic-wide response to an acute event.

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Renee Robinson, DNP, APRN-C, Named Chair of SPAQI Perioperative Collaborative Practice Committee

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

We are pleased to announce that Renee Robinson, DNP, APRN-C has been named Chair of the Perioperative Collaborative Practice Committee (PCPC) of the Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI). The PCPC is a multidisciplinary committee dedicated to supporting the engagement, professional development, and knowledge base of members across perioperative medicine teams. The committee places particular emphasis on advancing the contributions of advanced practice clinicians, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, CRNAs, physicians, and nurses.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Robinson on this important leadership role.

Andrew Wojtovich, Ph.D., Promoted to Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

Monday, March 2, 2026

Congratulations to Andrew Wojtovich, Ph.D., on his promotion to Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine with tenure and Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology. He currently serves as the Associate Vice Chair of Research - Basic Science, a role in which he continues to advance excellence in research and academic leadership.

Dr. Papadakos Published in Healio

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Check out Dr. Peter Papadakos, Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Neurology and Neurosurgery's recent article in Healio "Olympic Medical Teams Take the Gold for Athletic Care."

Francis Chang, MD Promoted to Associate Professor

Monday, February 9, 2026

Dr. Francis Chang has been promoted to Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.

Dr. Chang currently serves as Associate Program Director for the Anesthesiology Residency Program.

Dr. Peter Papadakos Published in Currents

Friday, February 6, 2026

Check out Dr. Peter Papadakos, Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Neurology and Neursurgery's most recent publication in Currents titled "The Collapose of Health Car ein Gaza, How Can We as a Society Help?"

Patent Issued to Drs. Ward and Karan

Friday, January 23, 2026

We are pleased to announce that U.S. Patent No. 12,508,382, titled “Myofunctional Training with Negative Airway Pressure for Obstructive Sleep Apnea,” issued on December 30, 2025, and names Dr. Denham Ward and Dr. Suzanne Karan as inventors.

This innovation reflects advancements in novel therapeutic approaches for obstructive sleep apnea, expanding research horizons in respiratory physiology and perioperative care. Congratulations to Drs. Ward and Karan on this significant achievement.

Dr. Papadakos Featured on iHeartRadio

Monday, January 12, 2026

Check out Dr. Peter Papadakos Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, recent interview by Manny Munoz on iHeart Radio! They will be discussing the Dangers of Driving at Night and being blinded by oncoming traffic with LAD Xenon Headlights.

Dr. Papadakos Featured on Anesthesiology News Presents

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Check out Dr. Peter Papadakos, Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, recent podcast “WHO Addresses Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome”.

Bob Dworkin Co-authors Journal of Clinical Anesthesia Article on Postoperative Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression

Friday, January 9, 2026

Robert Dworkin, PhD, is a co-author of recommendations for research designed to identify patients at high-risk for the development of postoperative opioid-induced respiratory depression and to test interventions to prevent the development of serious morbidity or death. These recommendations were based on a meeting held at Ohio State University in November 20024, at which Bob gave a talk on clinical trials. The full reference follows: Urman RD, Taenzer AH, Dahan A, Alparslan T, Abdelmalak B, Saugel B, Gali B, Dworkin RH, Masud FN, Chung F, Johnson KB, Mathur P, Wong M, van der Schrier R, Sabry A, Weingarten TN, Gan TJ, Khanna A. Improving definitions and innovations for identification and prevention of postoperative opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD): proceedings of the international consensus conference. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, in press.

Drs. Philip & Dworkin Publish Clinical Trial in Pain

Friday, January 2, 2026

Annie Philip, MD, and Bob Dworkin, PhD, are co-authors of an article published in Pain that reports the results of a randomized clinical trial in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis. The trial was conducted by NIH’s Early Phase Pain Investigation Clinical Network (EPPIC-Net), for which Dr. Dworkin served as a multiple PI of the Clinical Coordinating Center and Dr. Philip served as the PI of the UR site for the trial.