Fellows and residents of the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology Class of 2024 celebrated their graduation on June 22 at the Omaha Country Club.
Resident program director Andrea Dutoit, MD, commended the 2024 graduates on their achievements, reminded them to celebrate the significant achievements that brought them to this point and said these achievements are a testament to their dedication and passion for the field of anesthesiology.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of our graduates for their commitment to excellence, leadership and camaraderie throughout these transformative years,” Dr. Dutoit said. “Your hard work and determination have not gone unnoticed, and it is truly inspiring to witness your success.”
Post-graduation plans for each resident and fellow were announced, and annual departmental honors were presented, including Teacher of the Year Awards which recognize faculty who have gone above and beyond in providing an excellent educational experience for residents and fellows.
“Our faculty serve as mentors, motivators and role models, equipping residents and fellows with the tools and confidence to navigate their careers in anesthesiology,” Dr. Dutoit said. “While we have only one teacher of the year for each class, it is a tribute to the faculty that our residents nominated additional faculty for honorable mentions this year. It shows how difficult this decision can be for our residents to make, which is a good problem to have.”
This year’s recipients were:
- CBY Teacher of the Year – Prasanth Ravipati, MD
- CA1 Teacher of the Year – Rafael Arsky Lombardi, MD; honorable mentions: Kristin Wakin, MD, Corey Zetterman, MD, and Nicholas Markin, MD
- CA2 Teacher of the Year – Stephanie Shin, MD; honorable mentions: Stephen Brannan, MD, and Sean Karre, MD
- CA3 Teacher of the Year – Jasper Williams, MD; honorable mentions: Bradley Fremming, MD, and Thomas Manning, MD
- Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Teacher of the Year – Nicholas Markin, MD, and Kristi Lorenzen, MD
- Critical Care Anesthesiology Teacher of the Year – Stephen Brannan, MD
Each year, the residency program recognizes residents who achieved academic excellence by performing in the top 25% of trainees nationally by year of training on the annual Anesthesiology in-training examinations in February. Certificates of Academic Excellence were awarded to the following residents:
- Tyler Austin, MD
- Teddy Black, MD
- Nathan Goergen, MD
- Logan Harrold, MD
- Blair Mack, MD
- Jeremy Payne, MD
- Megan Rolfzen, MD
- Zachary Schell, MD
- Alec Seei, DO
- Elizabeth Ternent-Rech, DO
- Abigail Tesnohlidek, MD
- Adam Zobel, DO
Resident chiefs Drs. Black and Zobel each were presented a plaque recognizing their year of service to the department.
“Teddy Black and Adam Zobel have led their peers with a blend of skill and compassion, inspiring everyone around them to excel, including me,” Dr. Dutoit said. “They are peer mentors who lift their fellow trainees up, creating a supportive atmosphere where everyone can grow together. Their leadership isn’t just about making decisions and making schedules — it’s about making each day better for our patients and our team.”
This year, the Brad Paulson Memorial Award – given to an outstanding medical student pursuing a UNMC residency in anesthesiology — went to Shelby Schelkopf.
Dr. Dutoit congratulated the graduates for their clinical and academic excellence, as well as their overall attitude, leadership, perseverance and camaraderie. “It has been a privilege and honor to be a part of your training,” she said.
The department presented each graduate with a diploma, a monogrammed blanket and a framed word-collage with praise from mentors and colleagues.
Graduating residents, and their post-graduation plans, are as follows:
Theodore (Teddy) Black, MD – Critical Care & Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Fellowships, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennesee
Zachary Franco, MD – Faculty, Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy Hospital, Omaha
Joel Hachiya, MD – Private Practice, Associated Anesthesiologists, PC, Bryan Medical Center, Lincoln
Logan Harrold, MD – Private Practice, Union Hill Anesthesia, Kansas City, Missouri
Dan Nicholls, MD – Pain Medicine Fellowship, UNMC, Omaha
Kevin Rance, MD – Private Practice, Anesthesia Physicians Ltd, Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Michaela Randall, MD – Anesthesiologist, Nellis Airforce Base, Las Vegas, Nevada
Lucas Reitz, MD – Private Practice, Associated Anesthesiologists, PA, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Megan (Meg) Rolfzen, MD – Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship, UNMC, Omaha
Adam Zobel, DO – Private Practice, Associated Anesthesiologists, PC, Bryan Medical Center, Lincoln
Graduating fellows, and their post-graduation plans, are as follows:
Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology
Michael Dancer, MD – Private Practice, Associated Anesthesiologists, PC, Bryan Medical Center, Lincoln
Bradley Eichhorn, MD – Private Practice, West River Anesthesiology Consultants, Rapid City, South Dakota
Kevin McKillion, DO – Faculty, University Hospital, Cardiac and Critical Care, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
Eric Sweeney, MD – Private Practice, Dupage Valley Anesthesiologists, Naperville, Illinois
Sean Tomes, MD – Private Practice, Anesthesia West, Methodist Hospital, Omaha
Critical Care Medicine Anesthesiology
Scott Breeden, DO – Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship, UNMC, Omaha
Terry (Chris) Brown, DO – Private Practice, North Eastern Health System, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Mark Cheney, MD – Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, UNMC, Omaha
Justinn Lahaye, MD – Benefis Health System, ICU and ED, Great Falls, Montana
Benjamin Reinhart, DO – Intensivist, Monument Health, Rapid City, South Dakota
Pain Medicine
Graeme Boyter, DO – Faculty, CoxHealth Ferrell-Duncan Clinic, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Springfield, Missouri
Bobby Muelleman, MD – Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, UNMC, Omaha
Peter Ricci Pellegrino, MD, PhD – Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, UNMC, Omaha
Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine
Jasmeen Kaur, MBBS – Faculty, Wellstar MCG Health, Augusta, Georgia