Nicholas Markin, MD, has been named vice chair of education and innovation in the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology, effective December 1.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Markin to our leadership team,” said Mohanad Shukry, MD, PhD, interim chair of the department. “ His vision, expertise, and passion for leveraging data and technology will undoubtedly elevate our educational programs and enhance the department’s overall functions. I am confident Dr. Markin will continue to shape the future of anesthesiology at both local and national levels.”
A native of Omaha and an alumnus of UNMC, Dr. Markin is a highly accomplished cardiac anesthesiologist, academic leader and innovator dedicated to advancing patient care, medical education and perioperative imaging, Dr. Shukry said.
After earning his medical degree from the UNMC College of Medicine in 2007, Dr. Markin completed his anesthesiology residency at UNMC, followed by fellowships in perioperative echocardiography at the University of Utah and adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology at UNMC.
Dr. Markin career has been marked by significant contributions in clinical practice, education and innovation, Dr. Shukry said. Currently a professor in the department, he serves as the director of ultrasound education and program director of the perioperative echocardiography fellowship. Through these roles, he has developed cutting-edge educational programs that combine technology and clinical expertise to enhance trainee development.
Additionally, as the medical director of perioperative imaging at Nebraska Medicine, Dr. Markin oversees advanced imaging strategies that improve surgical outcomes and patient safety.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to join the leadership team and continue the great work of my predecessor,” Dr. Markin said. “I look forward to continuing the mission and exploring how technology, such as AI, can personalize and optimize training for residents and fellows.”
Dr. Markin’s interests include artificial intelligence and its potential applications in education, and he will be joining the faculty at the UNMC Center for Intelligent Health Care.
“Our colleagues at the Center for Intelligent Healthcare are working on clean data sets for training AI models,” Dr. Markin said. “I see opportunities to leverage this technology for individualized learning experiences. The idea is to identify where learning gaps exist and address them in a targeted way.”
Though excited about technological possibilities, Dr. Markin said he approaches artificial intelligence with a healthy dose of skepticism, saying there are limitations with the current tools, such as generative AI models, which can sometimes provide inaccurate information with misplaced confidence.
“It’s crucial that we ensure technologies are ready for their intended purposes before deployment,” Dr. Markin said. “Our goal is to use these tools to enhance, not disrupt, the learning process.”
Dr. Markin’s academic contributions include more than 75 publications in top journals and numerous invited lectures and workshops at prestigious national and international conferences. Beyond his educational and clinical leadership, he is an accomplished innovator, holding patents for technologies such as the “Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Phantom” and the “Infectious Aerosol Capture Mask,” reflecting his commitment to advancing medical technology. His dedication to excellence is further exemplified by his membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Reflecting on his career path, Dr. Markin shared that anesthesiology wasn’t his initial focus. “A rotation during surgical residency changed my perspective,” he said. “I realized anesthesia offered a unique mix of complexity, problem-solving, and immediate impact, which resonated with me.”
Dr. Markin’s passion for clinical care, education, and innovation continues to inspire his work. “I get to do all the things I love: clinical work, research, and driving innovation. This role allows me to focus my efforts on making a difference,” he said.