Jessica Goeller, DO, MBA, has been named pediatric anesthesiology division chief and vice chair of pediatric anesthesia at the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology.
“Dr. Goeller’s extensive leadership experience and dedication to providing the very best clinical services for children made her the ideal candidate to continue to expand and lead the pediatric anesthesiology services,” said Mohanad Shukry, MD, PhD, interim chair of the department.
A native of Australia, Dr. Goeller served in the U.S. Army in finance and accounting shortly after emigrating to the United States, before attending medical school. She completed her residency in anesthesiology at the Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. After a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, she joined the faculty at the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology in 2014.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead such a strong, robust, compassionate and valuable team of people,” Dr. Goeller said. “I certainly feel humbled by the responsibility of the position and I am grateful to Dr. Shukry for his support and mentorship.”
Dr. Goeller said she wants to foster positive change as a leader and has been building the necessary skills and tools to step confidently into administrative and academic leadership roles.
This drive — to become a skilled and compassionate leader and effect positive change –is what drove her to pursue a career as a physician, she said.
“I always want to know I’m doing things for the right reason,” she said. “I’ve tested the waters across many roles to ensure that I have the right perspective – that I’m not doing it to serve myself but to be of service to or voice for those that I am working with.”
Dr. Goeller has several goals as division chief and said she will initially address organizational transparency, communication and the educational needs of the division.
“Encouraging everyone to be present and engaged and prioritizing wellness is one step that will ensure people feel they are a part of a supportive, fulfilling environment,” she said. “A big part of that is timely communication, providing opportunities for roles within the division that they can claim ownership of, including meetings, journal clubs and engaging educational opportunities.”
Wellness initiatives will ensure there are multiple opportunities for the division to build rapport and feel like part of a compassionate and cohesive team of professionals, she said. These initiatives may include gatherings outside of work, journal clubs, recognition and engagement surveys to determine professional needs.
“People often feel underrecognized for their hard work in providing the best care for children,” Dr. Goeller said. “I’m looking at different initiatives to launch this coming year focusing on updating and upgrading our communication, our engagement and our wellness.”
Dr. Goeller also plans to expand the division’s national presence by providing further opportunities for professionals within their areas of interest or expertise, including educational, research, or cardiac anesthesiology.
“The pediatric anesthesiology division provides excellent clinical care and education for our fellows. One of my goals is to continue to support these efforts while fostering a supportive, fulfilling environment.”
Dr. Goeller’s clinical interests include pediatric regional anesthesia and pain management. She is actively involved in osteogenesis imperfecta research, a genetic disease that causes bones to fracture easily requiring multiple surgical interventions.
Dr. Goeller said she enjoys spending her free time with her husband and children, traveling and reading fantasy books, especially Sara J. Maas. She is proud to call Nebraska home and is honored to serve the community.
“I really love Omaha and Nebraska – I consider myself an adopted Nebraskan since coming here in 2014,” Dr. Goeller said. “I’ve fostered some really great relationships and feel well-equipped to represent and lead the division.”
Dr. Goeller has served locally as chair of the Children’s Specialty Physicians Board of Directors and as a senator for the UNMC Faculty Senate in addition to her role as director of perioperative services at Children’s Nebraska.
She has served nationally as the chair of the Professional Education Committee for the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiology and is vice president of the board of the AOCA. This past May, she received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which she pursued to become a better leader and professional.