Name: Rachel Spitznagel, MD
Hometown: Born in Lincoln, Nebraska; raised in Aurora, Illinois
Title and department at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine: Associate professor, UNMC Department of Anesthesiology; pediatric anesthesiologist, EPIC MD Champ, Children’s Nebraska
Why I chose anesthesiology: I love the operating room, physiology and the impact of our interventions, as well as performing procedures. It also is an honor to gain the trust of patients and parents after a brief interaction in the preop area. The entire perioperative period is so important, and I love following up with families afterward to check on their children.
How I became interested in anesthesiology: I completed an anesthesia rotation at an off-site location and fell in love with anesthesia. The rest is history.
Education:
Medical School
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Residency
Anesthesia residency, Northwestern University
Fellowship
Pediatric anesthesiology
Professional Memberships:
- American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Society for Pediatric Anesthesia
Professional and medical interests:
Quality and safety improvement
Three things people may not know about me:
- I have four dogs.
- I played bassoon all the way through college.
- I never went skiing throughout college, despite going to Colorado State University, as I was too busy studying.