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Meet the Residents

Letter from the Chiefs

Welcome to the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at Saint Louis University! We are delighted by your interest in our residency program. We would like to highlight why completing the next phase of your training at SLU is a unique and fulfilling experience in the heart of a beautiful city.  

The breadth of clinical training offered at Saint Louis University is unmatched and prepares our residents for independent practice following graduation. As an active Level 1 trauma center, our residents quickly gain experience and expertise in advanced resuscitation and caring for high-acuity patients, both in the operating rooms and intensive care units. Our tight-knit, hardworking residents make learning from many of our distinguished faculty an enjoyable experience.

As a “Clinical Base Year” intern, you will rotate through several months of medicine and surgical subspecialties. Of note, our intern year includes five months rotating within the anesthesiology department! This includes pre-anesthesia clinic, the anesthesiology critical care service, developing health care administration skills in our practice management course, and our June OR boot-camp month which will fully prepare you for your transition into the OR. These months will allow you to form bonds not only with your anesthesiology colleagues, but also develop interdepartmental relationships with other surgical subspecialty residents. 

The majority of your clinical anesthesia years will be spent in the new SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital ORs. You will build a strong academic and procedural foundation through the early, broad exposure to many diverse cases. Our ever-evolving curriculum allows for flexibility to meet the needs of each resident as they develop throughout their clinical years. 

Our robust academic curriculum has many moving parts, including morning keywords, weekly didactic lectures, journal clubs, grand rounds, morbidity and mortality conference, hands on ultrasound workshops, oral board prep, and simulation lab sessions. Many of our residents travel to and present at national anesthesia conferences, as well as subspecialty conferences. Also of note, these academic endeavors are funded by the department. Our education curriculum will help you build an excellent knowledge foundation to effectively take advantage of the medically complex cases offered here at Saint Louis University. 

We are fortunate to have a new, state of the art hospital as our main clinical site. SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital will serve as your home for the majority of residency. Other facilities for training are all within the St. Louis metro area including: SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital (next door to the SLUH main hospital), SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, John Cochran VA Hospital, and Mercy Hospital St. Louis.

Anesthesiology residency at Saint Louis University not only guarantees a strong clinical education, but also a tight knit departmental family that genuinely cares about your well-being. Monthly department-sponsored socials around the city embody our commitment to fostering a cohesive work community. Our campus is situated close to downtown St. Louis, the national award-winning Forest Park, and many of the unique neighborhoods in the St. Louis area. Whether you are interested in family fun, nightlife, food, music, or sports, St. Louis has exciting options for everyone.

Ultimately, our anesthesiology residency will give you a strong, balanced and supportive environment to gain superior clinical skill and knowledge that will lay the foundation for any career path you choose to pursue. 

We look forward to meeting you!

Caroline Haynes, D.O. & Christopher Brenner, D.O.
Chief Residents

Clinical Based Year
Headshot of Jessica Bennion

Jessica Bennion, D.O.

Logan, Utah
A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Medicine


Headshot of Elizabeth Caravana

Elizabeth Caravana, D.O.

Indianapolis, Indiana
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of Alec Garcia

Alec Garcia, M.D.

St. Louis
Saint Louis University School of Medicine


Headshot of Michael Lugo

Michael Lugo, M.D.

Yorba Linda, California
Saint Louis University School of Medicine


Headshot of Nici McCrary

Amanda”Nici” McCrary, M.D.

Hallsville, Missouri
University of Medicine and Health Sciences 


Headshot of Craig Mitchell

Craig Mitchell, D.O.

Kissimmee, Florida
Kansas City University


Headshot of Thomas Oh

Thomas Oh, M.D.

San Antonio, Texas
Long School of Medicine


Headshot of Daniel Ohlhausen, MD

Daniel Ohlhausen, M.D.

Liberty, Missouri
Saint Louis University School of Medicine


Headshot of Kyle Polhemus

Kyle Polhemus, M.D.

Jacksonville, Florida
St. George’s University of Medicine


Headshot of Jonathan Staheli

Jonathan Staheli, D.O.

Parker, Colorado
Kansas City University


CA-1
Headshot of Steven Blackshear

Steven Blackshear, D.O.

Springfield, Missouri
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of Bridget Devlin

Bridget Devlin, M.D.

Fresno, California
Saint Louis University School of Medicine


Headshot of Suhail Hiermandi

Suhail Hiermandi, D.O.

Glendale, Arizona
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University


Headshot of Caleb Kimm

Caleb Kimm, D.O.

Keystone, Iowa
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of Daniel Kong

Daniel Kong, D.O.

Orange County, California
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of Jaron Madsen

Jaron Madsen, D.O.

Mesa, Arizona
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of John Merlo

John Merlo, M.D.

St. Louis
Ross University School of Medicine


Headshot of Nathan Parry

Nathan Parry, M.D.

Waterford, Michigan
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine


Headshot of Mallory Rearden

Mallory Rearden, D.O.

Salem, Illinois
Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of Zach Rocca

Zachary Rocca, D.O.

Tampa, Florida
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine


CA-2
Headshot of Derek Chung, D.O.

Derek Chung, D.O.

Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of Courtlin Culbreath, M.D.

Courtlin Culbreath, M.D. 

Herrin, Illinois
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine 


Headshot of Ryan Haag, D.O.

Ryan Haag, D.O.

Sterling, Michigan
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences 


Headshot of Kirstie Holterman, M.D.

Kirstie Holterman, M.D. 

Labadie, Missouri
University of  Missouri School of Medicine


Headshot of Suraj Kaushal, D.O.

Suraj Kaushal, D.O. 

Detroit
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine 


Headshot of Michael Scott Lasky, M.D.

Michael Scott Lasky, M.D. 

St. Louis
University of Missouri School of Medicine


Headshot of Amanda Minzer, M.D.

Amanda Minzer, M.D. 

Thousand Oaks, California
Saint Louis University School of Medicine


Headshot of Navneesh Pandher, M.D.

Navneesh Pandher, M.D.

Detroit
Saint Louis University School of Medicine 


Headshot of Robert Patterson, D.O.

Robert Patterson, D.O. 

Grand Junction, California
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic


Headshot of Mark Soisson, M.D.

Mark Soisson, M.D. 

Romeo, Michigan
University of Kansas School of Medicine


CA-3
 
Carter Abicht, D.O.

Carter Abicht, D.O.

La Crosse, Wisconsin
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences


Adam Benckendorf, D.O.

Adam Benckendorf, D.O.

St. Louis
A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine


Christopher Brenner, D.O.

Christopher Brenner, D.O.

Chief Resident

Chesterfield, Missouri
A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine


Bradley Haynes, D.O.

Bradley Haynes, D.O.

Vacaville, California
Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience


Caroline Haynes, D.O.

Caroline Haynes, D.O.

Chief Resident

Jonesboro, Arkansas
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences


Jacob Osterman, D.O.

Jacob Osterman, D.O.

Munster, Indiana
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine


Kirk Naughter

Kirk Naughter, D.O. 

Birmingham, Alabama
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine


James Rapp

James Rapp, D.O. 

Smithton, Illinois
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine 


Nick Schlarmant

Nick Schlarmann, M.D.

Academic Chief

St. Louis
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine


Gabrielle Statzer, M.D.

Gabrielle Statzer, M.D.

QI, Chief

St. Louis
Wayne State University School of Medicine


Where They Went

2023 Graduates

Fellowships:
Cardiothoracic Anesthesia - University of Alabama - Birmingham
Cardiothoracic Anesthesia - University of Florida, Gainesville
Chronic Pain - Montefiore/Albert Einstein University, New York
Chronic Pain - Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Chronic Pain - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Chronic Pain - University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Pediatric Anesthesia - University of Kansas - Childrens' Mercy, Kansas City, Missouri

Private Practice:
Oklahoma City
Provo, UT
Redding, CA

2022 Graduates

Fellowships:
Chronic Pain—State University of New York at Buffalo
Cardiothoracic Anesthesia—University of Iowa, Iowa City
Pediatric Anesthesia—University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Pediatric Anesthesia—University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City

Private Practice:
Sacramento, California
Oceanside, New York
Belleville, Illinois
Gadsden, Alabama

Military:
St. Louis