Anesthesiology residency program announces operations, wellness directors

The Department of Anesthesiology’s residency program has restructured their leadership team, moving from two general associate program directors to a team of three associate program directors that each focus on a facet of the resident experience.
 
In early September, Cale Kassel, MD, was named the associate program director for rotations and operations, and Joe Pawlowski, MD, was named the associate program director for performance and wellbeing. The two join Katie Goergen, MD, who has been an associate residency program director since 2016. Dr. Goergen will now focus primarily on resident education. The three form a team that will oversee the entire resident experience, and operates under the direction of Program Director Andrea Dutoit, MD, and Vice Chair of Education, Amy Duhachek-Stapelman, MD.
 
“Dr. Kassel and Dr. Pawlowski have exhibited enthusiasm and excellence in education, mentorship, and patient care, and will be valuable additions to the residency education program,” said Dr. Duhachek-Stapelman.  
 
The restructuring of the anesthesiology residency education team aims to provide more expert and timely support to residents and faculty alike.
 
“There are a lot of different responsibilities and facets to running and maintaining a busy residency program,” said Dr. Dutoit. “By distributing these roles, each person can really dive deep and be innovative and attentive to each area and build it to be the best it can be. Having these roles also increases the ability for us to respond to comments and inquiries in a more timely fashion while we balance our clinical, educational and administrative responsibilities.”
 
Dr. Pawlowski, who joined the department in Fall of 2018, believes that a successful residency program is one that not only offers a robust curriculum, but also provides a supportive and healthy environment where trainees can lead a balanced life.
 
“I’ve been struck by how the faculty here so easily blend high expectations and professionalism with kindness and mentorship,” Dr. Pawlowski said. “The people and tools are already in place to continue striving for a world-class residency, and I’m excited to work with Dr. Dutoit and the other APDs with an eye toward the future. I believe the ASA’s motto, ‘Vigilance’ can apply not only to patient care but to how we care for ourselves and each other.”
 
Dr. Kassel, an alumnus of UNMC’s Anesthesiology residency program, was named chief resident in 2014. Through that experience he saw the “behind-the-scenes” operations of residency, and recognized opportunities to teach and mentor residents.
 
“One of the greatest joys in teaching residents is seeing their development from a new resident who is nervous but eager to learn develop into a confident, capable anesthesiologist when they graduate,” Dr. Kassel said. “What UNMC and Nebraska Medicine offer in terms of both breadth and depth of challenging cases is a great opportunity to develop world-class physicians. I am excited for the opportunity to work with the residency program leaders and the fantastic support staff we have.”