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Meet the Residents

Welcome to the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at pro. 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 pro 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 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 pro 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 pro. 

We are fortunate to have a new, state of the art hospital as our main clinical site. SSM Health pro 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 Saint Louis University Hospital), SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, John Cochran VA Hospital and Mercy Hospital St. Louis.

Anesthesiology residency at pro 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!

Navneesh Purewal, M.D., and Derek Chung, D.O.
Chief residents

Clinical Based Year
Headshot of Marc Abi Karam

Marc Abi Karam, M.D.

Beirut, Lebanon
University of St. Joseph


Headshot of Atef Haifa

Atef Haifa, D.O.

San Antonio, Texas
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Louisiana


Headshot of Joseph Hoyle

Joseph Hoyle, M.D.

Springfield, Illinois
Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at T.C.U.


Headshot of Madelyn Hunsaker

Madelyn Hunsaker, M.D.

Bridgeton, Missouri
pro School of Medicine


Headshot of Christopher Johnson

Christopher Johnson, M.D.

Springfield, Illinois
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine


Headshot of Camilla Kachar

Camilla Kachar, M.D.

St. Louis
University of Missouri, Kansas City


Headshot of Reid Poggemeier

Reid Poggemeier, D.O.

St. Charles, Missouri
Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of Evan Semball

Evan Sembell, M.D.

Springfield, Illinois
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine


Headshot of Jaganjot Singh

Jaganjot Singh, D.O.

Bellingham, Washington
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine


Headshot of Jordan Yokley

Jordan Yokley, D.O.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
A.T. Still Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine


CA-1
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
pro School of Medicine


Headshot of Michael Lugo

Michael Lugo, M.D.

Yorba Linda, California
pro 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
pro 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-2
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
pro 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-3
Headshot of Derek Chung, D.O.

Derek Chung, D.O.

Chief Resident
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.

QI Chief
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. 

Academic Chief
Thousand Oaks, California
pro School of Medicine


Headshot of Navneesh Pandher, M.D.

Navneesh Pandher, M.D.

Chief Resident
Detroit
pro 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


Where They Went

2024 Graduates

Fellowships:

  • Cardiothoracic anesthesia, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
    Cardiothoracic anesthesia, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
    Chronic pain, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 

Academic:

  • SSM Health pro Hospital, St. Louis (four graduates)

Private Practice:

  • Vacaville, California
  • Hudson, Florida
  • Indianapolis

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, Utah
  • Redding, California