John G. Hagen, MD, MBA, FAAP, FASA, Editor-in-Chief
I am a board-certified physician in both anesthesiology and pediatric anesthesiology. My main areas of clinical expertise are neonatal and pediatric anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and pediatric cardiothoracic anesthesia. While much of my clinical work has focused on caring for complex, critical infants and children, I also care for children undergoing all manner of more routine procedures. I currently serve as the Director for Pediatric Anesthesia at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In my downtime, I enjoy spending time with my family, going on medical missions, seeing live music, collecting vinyl records, backcountry snowboarding, afternoon naps on the weekend, and eating my way through NYC.
Sampaguita (Sam) Tafoya, MD,
Associate Editor
I am a pediatric anesthesiologist and the Assistant Chair of the Department of Anesthesia at Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, where I am dedicated to excellence in patient care. My academic interests lie in pediatric regional anesthesia, resuscitation management, and multimodal pain therapies. When not “on call,” you’ll find me baking (I’ve got a cookie obsession), hiking, or paddle boarding with my family. I consider my marriage of 23 years and my two thoughtful children my greatest accomplishments of all.
Can Aksu, MD, EDRA
I am a pediatric anesthesiologist and work as an associate professor at Kocaeli University Hospital. I attended Istanbul University for medical school and completed my residency at Kocaeli University. My primary clinical expertise/interest areas are pediatric anesthesia, orthopedic anesthesia, and regional anesthesia. Working with pediatric patients and creating a pain-free perioperative period for them is fulfilling. Apart from struggling to make the children in the hospital happy, I like to spend time with my family. Moreover, I love music and play clarinet in my spare time.
Walid Alrayashi, MD
I am a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist who focuses on improving the operative care of patients using ultrasound technology. I attended Northwestern University for medical school, then completed residency at NYU. After that, I headed to Boston to complete two fellowships. I continue to learn and educate on the use of ultrasound for the therapeutic treatment of pain, as well as the diagnosis for acute pathologies using POCUS at the national and international level. Beyond my clinical work, I enjoy spending time with my family exploring new outdoor destinations, physical fitness, and a tincture of adrenaline pumping activities!
Natalie Barnett, MD
I am a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist with clinical interests in pediatric regional anesthesia and pain medicine, as well as educational interests in anesthesia simulation. I grew up in the Southeast where I completed both undergraduate and medical education. I ventured to the “big city” for residency in anesthesiology and stayed in NYC for the first 11 years of my career. I have recently moved back South, and while I miss city life, my family & I are enjoying the slower pace, extra space and close proximity to the beach. I am, at heart, a beach baby.
Michelle Carley, MD
I am a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City where I focus on anesthesia for orthopedic surgery. I also have a clinical research interest in local anesthetic dosing for spinals in children. I attended medical school at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and residency and pediatric anesthesia fellowship at NewYork Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center. I am happy to live and practice in this wonderful city. I enjoy running, baking sourdough bread, and a good wedding dance-off.
Rodrigo Daly Guris, MBBS, MSc, FAAP
I am a board-certified pediatric and liver transplant anesthesiologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). You can often find me using a small, high-frequency probe for various procedures. As a member of the point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) and regional anesthesiology faculty, I have been invited to teach nationally on topics like neuraxial and gastric ultrasound, airway sono-anatomy, and ultrasound-guided hip analgesia techniques. When I'm not covered in ultrasound gel, I dedicate my thoughts to human performance, team dynamics, and immersive technology. As the associate medical director for research and innovation at CHOP's Center for Simulation, Advanced Education, and Innovation, I strive to explore new ways to enhance healthcare delivery.
Mo Esfahanian, MD, FAAP
I am a clinical assistant professor of pediatric anesthesiology at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. I am board certified in pediatrics, anesthesiology, and pediatric anesthesiology and practice as a pediatric regional anesthesiologist. My major interest is in utilizing regional techniques to enhance postoperative recovery and have presented nationally on the effectiveness of head and neck blocks, particularly for cleft palate repair. In my free time I enjoy indoor rock climbing, photography, playing piano/drums/guitar, and tinkering with electronics. I live in Northern California with my wife and two young children, 2 dogs, 4 chickens, and our honeybees.
Cassandra Hoffmann, MD
I am a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist with special interests in pediatric regional anesthesia, POCUS, and pain medicine. After completing both residency and fellowship in Houston, Texas, our family moved to Ohio for our next adventure. My current interests include incorporating regional anesthesia to provide enhanced recovery and opioid sparing techniques for all pediatric patients, including neonates. When I am not in the hospital, I enjoy hiking, spending time with family, exploring new cuisine, and of course… traveling!
Deepa Kattail, MD, MHS, FAAP
I am a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist and pediatric chronic pain physician at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. My area of interest and expertise is across all aspects of pediatric pain medicine including acute pain, chronic pain and regional anesthesia. I completed my residency at Rush University Medical Centre, followed by a pediatric fellowship at Johns Hopkins. I am actively involved in the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine on the board of directors, chair of the communications committee and program chair for the 2022 annual meeting. Outside of work, I enjoy time with my family including 2 kids, doing all things Canadian (eating poutine, saying sorry!, playing in the snow!)
Tripali Kundu, MD
I am a double board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist with clinical expertise in regional anesthesia and perioperative pain therapy. After having trained in the NY/NJ area, my interest in pediatric pain piqued during fellowship while at the Children's Hospital of Atlanta at Emory University. My current practice incorporates opioid-sparing techniques, ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia, and an emphasis on acute pain management to create an optimized anesthetic regimen in caring for children of all ages. I am additionally involved in medical education, clinical research, and quality improvement initiatives. I enjoy spending time with family, yoga, hiking, and being a "foodie" planning my next meal.
Carolina Pérez-Pradilla, MD
I am a Pediatric Anesthesiologist originally from Bogotá, Colombia. I completed fellowships in both Pediatric Anesthesia and Regional Anesthesia in Mexico. Currently, I am actively involved in teaching trainees at Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá. Having grown up in Colombia and receiving training in both Colombia and Mexico, I have gained a deep appreciation for the cultural and environmental diversities. I am committed to continuously enhancing patient care. As a mother of two boys, I strive to excel both in my role as a parent and as a physician, aiming to make a positive impact on children's lives. In addition, I have a great passion for swimming and dancing.
Vinícius Quintão, MD, MSc, PhD
I am a pediatric anesthesiologist in São Paulo, Brazil. Although Pediatric Anesthesia is not recognized as a subspecialty in my country, I have dedicated all my clinical and academic training to this subarea. I trained in my hometown, Belo Horizonte, and moved to São Paulo in 2017. I am currently the director of the Fellowship Program in Pediatric and Neonatal Anesthesia at the Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo (University of São Paulo-USP). Although I miss my hometown, I love living in São Paulo! São Paulo is perfect for those who like theater, art galleries, and good food, like me! Furthermore, I am also passionate about teaching and research and advocate universal and free access to good references in pediatric anesthesia.
Maria C. Solórzano-Aldana, MD
I am a Colombian Anesthesiologist trained at the Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, where I have been a staff member for the past few years. Furthermore, passionate about continuous learning and teaching, I am completing a fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesia at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. My enthusiasm for regional anesthesia remains a central focus of my academic and personal development goals. Outside of work, I cherish spending time with my family and dogs, connecting with nature, embracing multicultural environments, traveling, appreciating art, enjoying good music and movies.