ASA Member Spotlight

There is no "right" financial answer to the fellowship question, only a decision that aligns with an individual’s personal circumstances, priorities, and long-term career goals. By Dr. Kayla Knuf, with Drs. Joy Chen, Carly Jacobs, Sachin Jha, Eric Reilly, ...

It’s that time of year: New CB residents are finding their rhythm. CA-1s are getting their feet under them in the OR. And you, new attendings, are finally earning the paycheck you’ve been waiting on for years. The question is…now what? By Jeffrey Steiner, ...

Highlights from the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 Finance Panel. By Dr. Kayla Knuf, with Drs. Christopher Malgieri, Herb Chen, and Shyamal Asher. After years of training on modest resident salaries, the first real paycheck as an anesthesiologist feels both ...

After years a s a practicing physician, Dr. William Hauter decided there was another way he could give back to his community: as an elected official representing first his county and now district in Illinois. In this Member Spotlight, Dr. Hauter—a state ...

There is an expectation — even a recommendation — among many that it's better to practice in a more traditional setting before embarking on a career as a locums anesthesiologist. In this Member Spotlight, early-career anesthesiologist Dr. Adam Moore ...

Whether you’re employed (W-2), an independent contractor (1099), or somewhere in between, knowing what you can write off (and how to track it) can save you thousands each year. By Joseph Klaus, MD As a physician, you’ve worked hard to get ...

For over a decade, Dr. Stephen Jackson served as chair of the ASA Committee on Ethics, and he served for over three decades as a member on both the ASA Committee on Occupational Health and the ASA Committee on Physician Well-Being. It’s a powerful trifecta ...

“If only I knew then what I know now.” It’s a familiar lament we hear time and again from those who think they could have made better investment decisions…if only. For the young readers out there, I have some good news: You need not be a time traveler ...

Residency is finally over and you just signed your first big contract as a staff anesthesiologist. But before you spend that salary faster than you can deposit it to your bank account, there are a few moves you should make to set yourself up for financial ...

Having adequate savings is critical to maintaining financial health. Here are the four key considerations to create a robust and effective saving strategy, plus a primer on common savings instruments that can help you reach your personal goals. By Michael ...

In addition to their convenience, credit cards provide security features and a wide range of rewards programs. Picking the right card and managing it appropriately is imperative. By Michael Norton, MD, MBA, FASA For many years, I had only one ...

Within six short years in the dynamic field of regional anesthesia and acute pain management, Dr. Christian Horazeck has already amassed a wealth of experience and insight. In this Member Spotlight, Dr. Horazeck highlights innovative strategies that improve ...

There’s no single prescription for smart tax management, but some essential strategies can be tailored to maximize the year-over-year earnings of a practicing physician. By John Rose, DO As a young physician embarking on a career in medicine, ...

Stepping outside of our comfort zone to engage in political advocacy can be daunting. After years of meeting with lawmakers, I've finally learned how to make the most of my visits to Capitol Hill. By Asha Padmanabhan, MD I recently returned from ...

Tax Day has come and gone. Since you’ve already spent time putting your financial statements together, why not take this opportunity to make the most of that effort? By Jeffrey Steiner, DO, MBA Most physicians don't have a great handle on their ...

The lure of self-employment continues to be popular for anesthesiologists. It comes with flexibility in scheduling as well as the ability to travel. Whether this is a full-time gig or in supplement to your W2 job, there are many options to manage your ...

No matter how “comfortable” I become financially, I can still always appreciate a good deal. And believe me, if you plan to finance your child’s education, there is no better deal than a 529. By Chris Malgieri, MD In a nutshell: A 529 plan is ...

Dr. Elisha Peterson is a Harvard-trained, triple-boarded anesthesiologist who has since added “podcast host” and “TEDx speaker” to her already impressive resume. In this Member Spotlight, she explains how her many professional activities and interests ...

Younger anesthesiologists focused on wealth accumulation rather than preservation should consider adding not just stocks but also cryptocurrency to any aggressive investment portfolio. Here’s why. By Andrew Winegarner, MD Anesthesiologists, especially ...

Dr. Mary Arthur recently returned from a mission trip to Ghana sponsored by Internal Healthcare Volunteers (IHCV). In this Member Spotlight, she shares her commitment to medical education and clinical care programs worldwide, including her work on ASA's ...

Almost all financial advice suggests diversification to minimize risk if a certain portion of your portfolio takes a hit. Investing in real estate may be a good bet. By Kayla Knuf, MD Many residents and staff early on in their careers cannot afford ...

Before starting your new role as an anesthesiologist, there's one last hurdle: employment contract negotiation. By John Rose, DO As a newly minted anesthesiologist at the end of years of arduous medical training, the anticipation of your first attending ...

Over the past five years Dr. Elizabeth Hansen has made it a personal and professional goal to reduce the environmental impact of anesthesia. In this Member Spotlight, she gets granular about the various projects she's working on to help hospitals cut ...

A financial plan is much like an anesthetic plan. Young physicians should aim to optimize outcomes and set themselves up for success while also insuring against the rare but potentially catastrophic bumps in the road. By Daniel Kinney, MD Anesthesiologists ...

Doctors are among the highest earners in America, which allows us much greater financial flexibility and freedom than most people. That means we have more opportunities for economic advancement and asset growth but also more chances for potentially disastrous ...

This past January, anesthesiology resident Dr. Neal Al-Attar boarded a plane to the Philippines to participate in a global health mission. Over three days, he and his fellow volunteers performed nearly 30 cases. In this Member Spotlight, Dr. Al-Attar ...

Personal finance isn’t taught in most medical schools or residency training programs, so it’s no wonder many doctors don’t start saving sooner. Here’s some back-of-the-napkin math on how much you need to save each year to reach your retirement goals. ...

While the idea of having a financial planner may seem convenient, finding an affordable financial planner who has your best interests at hand can be a daunting task. Target funds and robo-advisors are two modern tools designed to help novice investors ...

The days are getting longer, and spring is fast approaching. But before we can enjoy the warmer weather, we all must get past one of the most dreaded financial hurdles of year: tax season. Here are some concrete strategies to maximize deductions and minimize ...

Thanks to the internet, it's now even easier to manage one's finances. But even these online tools require inputs based on highly individualized budgeting decisions. Here are five key questions you must answer to create a budget that truly works for you. ...

Dr. Allison Fernandez isn't afraid to ask the hard questions. For the past two years, she's directed that inquisitive nature toward women in the field of anesthesiology, asking them about their lives and careers in often very personal terms. Her video ...

When Dr. Emily Hagn received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020, she was so excited that she asked to keep the vial. At the time, she had no idea that her spur-of-the-moment decision would grow into a multimedia art installation featuring ...

For many, recent volatility in the stock market has been scary. For young physicians and other potential long-term investors, it can be an opportunity. By Cobin Soelberg, MD, JD, FASA Mortgage rates are at their highest level in over a decade . ...

This September we go "back to school" for an interview with Dr. Michaela Farber, whose career in academia is off to a mighty impressive start. In this Member Spotlight, she shares her hopes for the next generation of anesthesiologists, how things are ...

August is often referred to as the "dog days of summer," a time when many of us feel a little sluggish and – hey, we'll say it – maybe just a tiny bit lazy. This month we bring you the story of Dr. Zohra Salahuddin, who is anything but. Speaker of many ...

As a young physician my income has been changing rapidly and, come to find out, I wasn’t withholding enough. It’s more complicated though, and I have learned a great deal about tax code and tax reform while researching the “why.” By Chelsea Altinger ...

Happy Independence Day! This month we catch up with Dr. Gary Lawson-Boucher, anesthesiologist and veteran of the U.S. Navy. In this ASA Member Spotlight, he shares how serving in the military helped shape him as a physician and a person. You served ...

June is Pride month, an annual celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and freedom of expression. For this Member Spotlight we reached out to Dr. Travis Reece-Nguyen, a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at both Stanford Medical School and the ...

Why Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is such a particular boon to indebted physicians. By Chris Malgieri, MD Eleven years ago, on a balmy late-spring day in Columbus Ohio, I entered my medical school lecture hall for a mandatory student loan ...

If we’re serious about long-term financial planning we must first understand the emotional drivers—overconfidence, unconscious bias, even jealousy and envy—that may be getting in our way. By Cobin Soelberg, MD, JD, FASA When many physicians think ...

Until very recently, I was grossly unfamiliar with advocacy and legislative affairs like the No Surprises Act, the 33% Problem, and the Stone Memo. But after attending the ASA ADVANCE event in Dallas earlier this year, I feel educated and well-equipped ...

It can be a headache finding the right person to look after your home and your children, but when you are lucky enough to find a keeper, you will need a financial plan – and hopefully not encounter another headache. By Chelsea Altinger Casey, MD ...

While not part of a traditional investment plan, several arguments can be made for having some amount of alternative investment funds. By Matthew Dellaquila MD MBA FASA If limited to a small percentage of your investment fund, alternative investment ...

As we settle in for the winter months, the holiday season gives way to a much less welcome time of year. Here are a few things young physicians should keep in mind as Tax Day approaches. By Christopher Malgieri, MD Tax season used to be a much simpler ...

When she isn’t researching new, non-opioid treatments for pain, Denise Lester, MD, is raising awareness and prevention of opioid use among hundreds of at-risk teens. In this ASA Member Spotlight, she shares how she got involved on both sides of this important ...

Researchers seeking to quantify the impact of physician burnout have their work cut out for them. In this ASA Member Spotlight, Anoushka Afonso, MD, FASA, shares how she and her colleagues went about conducting the first large-scale study of physician ...

“Peer support” is one of those phrases we think we understand until we encounter it in a very specific context. In this ASA Member Spotlight, Julie Crichton, MD, outlines the key principles of Peer Support as it relates to the practice of medicine and ...

As an anesthesiologist and pain physician who just happens to be a woman, Alopi Patel, MD, has seen firsthand how gender disparities persist in our understanding of women’s health-related pain conditions. In this ASA Member Spotlight, she shares how she ...

Disability insurance maybe the furthest thing from your mind right now but, without it, you may be creating a major gap in your overall financial plan that could quickly dissolve your savings and future. By Chelsea Altinger Casey, MD It’s one of ...

Every time you change your employer (even going from resident to attending at the same institution), your benefits package will likely be different. To secure your financial future, it is important to review this benefits package thoroughly and intentionally ...

The journeyman path that many of us take through medical school and training leaves a dust cloud of landlords and leases. For those finishing training and beginning life as an attending physician, July 1 st confers a whole new meaning – and, hopefully, ...

Ever since his grandfather’s surgeon invited him to visit the OR as a teenager, Ty Slatton, MD, FASA, has had the bug. Now he’s bringing that enthusiasm to his work with medical students, exposing them to the realities and opportunities of practicing ...

For Michael Fabbro, DO, the “busyness” of a thriving cardiac surgery service served as inspiration to pursue a business degree. In this ASA Member Spotlight, he discusses how hard work, smart management, and a commitment to mentoring the next generation ...

The conflicts of interest within medicine are pretty easy to spot when you know what to look for. Let’s just say the financial industry is set up a little differently. By Jeffrey Steiner, DO, MBA It is not unusual for me to get asked personal finance ...

From an outside perspective it looks easy: oxygen mask, propofol, PACU. What could possibly go wrong? Spoiler alert: Anesthesiology residency instilled in me a very healthy–and hard-won–respect for sedation cases. By Nabil Othman, MD ...

If you’ve found yourself in the unfortunate position of going unmatched in anesthesiology, you’re not alone. Many fine anesthesiology residents and attendings have walked this path before you. Here’s how to follow in their footsteps. By Daniel Friedlander, ...

As a CA-1 I felt frantic and overwhelmed, and I made a lot of mistakes. Now, well into my CA-3 year, I’m calm, focused, and much more effective. It’s not because I’ve learned more. It’s because I’ve learned to think differently. By Nabil Othman, MD ...

@John Sudkamp took a circuitous route to anesthesiology following a stint in the Navy and a two-year hitch as a surgery resident. He’s since landed right back where he started, near his hometown in south-central Illinois, where he now practices in a ...

Upon finishing training, many new anesthesiologists will have debt (usually in the six-figure range) from medical school and college. They will likely also have debt from credit cards, relocation loans, car payments and possibly housing debt. Monthly ...

Many people have seen their lives turned upside down by the Covid-19 pandemic . The possibility of getting infected, the restrictions, the uncertainty and the stress that came with all these sudden changes have had a strong impact on our lives. But ...

Prepping for surgery is a daily occurrence for anesthesiologists, but for many patients it’s uncharted and potentially scary territory. In this ASA Member Spotlight, perioperative medicine specialist Jeanna Blitz, MD, FASA, highlights the power of a collaborative, ...

Amber Brooks, MD, is an anesthesiologist and researcher studying chronic pain in older minority populations. She’s also an educator and mentor. In this ASA Member Spotlight, she shares her insights on guarding against bias in patient care, the future ...

When faced with a choice between fellowships in pediatrics or pain, I chose both. Here’s how I came to that decision – and what you should consider as you weigh your own fellowship options. By Elisha Peterson, MD, FAAP, FASA I remember as a second-year ...

Studying disparities in children’s oral health may seem like an unconventional choice for an anesthesiologist, but for Helen Lee MD, MPH, it’s a calling. In this ASA Member Spotlight, Dr. Lee discusses her research at the intersection of medicine and ...

Assuming the top job in any organization has its challenges — and that’s before taking COVID into account. For ASA President Beverly Philip, MD, FACA, FASA, a healthy sense of adventure helps keep things in perspective. In this Member Spotlight, Dr. Philip ...

There is more than one road to financial success, but the key is spending less than you earn. Outgrow your new paycheck too quickly and you may find that you are struggling to meet your financial goals. Here are a few basic principles to put you on the ...

The standard of medical care shouldn’t change depending on who and where you are in the U.S., but that’s the reality for millions of Americans. Anesthesiologist Adam Milam, MD, PhD, has made it his mission to study the underlying factors that contribute ...

Catherine Kuhn, MD, knows there are some in the medical community who still view “burnout” as a sign that certain physicians just can’t cut it. In this Member Spotlight, she tells ASA Community how she’s working to counteract the old thinking both personally ...

William Hartman, MD, PhD, hasn’t only been on the front lines of the global pandemic – he’s been at the forefront of U.S. clinical trials to treat and vaccinate against COVID-19. In this ASA Community Member Spotlight, he takes us behind the scenes of ...

Entering an academic practice can be very intimidating and the attributes and skills that make you a great attending physician feel very different from those that made you a successful trainee. Here’s what you need to know. By Brittany Reardon MD ...

Mark Polak, DO, FASA, has consistently gone the extra mile in his career, earning his certification in pediatric anesthesiology at the earliest opportunity. In this ASA Community Member Spotlight, he shares his experience serving as the solo anesthesiologist ...

Julie Freed, MD, PhD, splits her professional time between cardiac anesthesiology and vascular biology, with a couple other high-profile roles thrown in the mix. In this Member Spotlight, she tells ASA Community about her practice, her research, and her ...

Your ability to work is the foundation of your financial plan. In previous blog posts we have discussed student loan management and how to plan for retirement . This post focuses on protecting your ability to execute those well-thought-out career goals ...

Now Residency Program Director at Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. @Annemarie Thompson has seen her professional life come full circle since earning her MD from Duke nearly 25 years ago. In this ASA Member Spotlight, she discusses how medical ...

For the young physician just beginning their career, retirement can seem infinitely far away. Retirement planning, however, requires dedication early in your career to ensure a smooth transition years down the road. Here is the first installment of several ...

Toward the beginning of CA3 year – or midway through fellowship – is typically when residents start looking for jobs. Look any earlier than that, and you risk wasting a first impression on prospective employers who don’t yet know what their future staffing ...

There are those who wonder if our specialty's focus on testing in resident education is creating a generation of anesthesiologists who practice by rote. As a young physician and product of that education, I respectfully disagree. By James Lamberg, DO ...

If you've got student debt - and if you're a young physician, chances are you do - you're probably wondering about the best and fastest ways to get rid of it. Here's a quick overview of your options. By Christopher Malgieri, MD You know the numbers. ...

The medical school years are tough by any standard. For @Jared Sharza , the COVID-19 pandemic put his academic training on pause at the exact moment his clinical rotations were set to begin. In this Member Spotlight, he shares how working as an EMT at ...

Robert Gaiser, MD, FASA , always wanted to be a doctor - just ask his mom. In this Member Spotlight, Dr. Gaiser shares how his laser focus on a medical career and anesthesiology as a specialty hasn't stopped him from engaging with his community on a ...

Nominated by @Mary Gibbons , MD: “Of the three women residents I knew in residency, I went to Columbia for a cardiac fellowship, my co-chief went to a critical care fellowship, and the third went to a pediatrician cardiac fellowship. Other attendings ...

Dr. Alessia Pedoto is an Italian transplant who has spent most of her anesthesiology career in New York, where she completed her residency and has practiced for more than 20 years. In this Member Spotlight, she tells ASA Community about her initial culture ...

This past summer, Dr. Lee Fleisher was tapped as Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ) at CMS - responsible for the quality of care for 147 million Americans. In this Member Spotlight, he tells ASA ...

Member Spotlight: @Robert Koebert , MD, FASA Nominated by: @James Mesrobian , MD, FASA Reason for Nomination: "He is a great advocate and wonderful example of an ‘older’ anesthesiologist who remains engaged." (Is there an ASA member you'd like ...

Member Spotlight: @Lois Connolly , MD, FASA Nominated by: @Jesse Ehrenfeld , MD, FASA Reason for Nomination: "She created and leads a highly successful AA training program!" (Is there an ASA member you'd like to nominate for a Spotlight? ...

The deleterious effects of sleep deprivation on human physiology and psychology are well documented, yet we as anesthesiologists have yet to fully understand the implications. When considering behavioral factors affecting perioperative patients, sleep ...

Member Spotlight: @Tracey Straker , MD, MPH, MS, FASA Nominated by: @Crystal Wright , MD, FASA Reason for Nomination: "She's director of the ASA Mentoring Program and has done remarkable work!" (Is there an ASA member you'd like to nominate ...

There comes a time in every medical resident’s training when learning turns to action – or at least some sort of direction. While nothing is set in stone (and, in fact, you’re better off assuming it isn’t), there are a few guiding principles every anesthesiologist ...

Most of us agree that a workplace should be a welcoming place. But the process of taking stock and implementing real change can sometimes feel overwhelming. Where does one even start? The good news is that unconscious biases that contribute to inequities ...

Anesthesiology as a profession has made significant contributions and improvement towards understanding and managing perioperative brain health of elderly patients. As such, we anesthesiologists are uniquely positioned to take a leading role in better ...