Critical Care Medicine

About the Critical Care Medicine Division

The Division of Critical Care Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine provides multidisciplinary care for critically ill patients across several high-acuity intensive care units throughout the Memorial Hermann and Harris Health systems. Our faculty care for patients with complex cardiovascular, surgical, trauma, burn, and transplant-related critical illness while working closely with consultants across every discipline.

Our division is built around a patient-first philosophy that emphasizes clinical excellence, collaboration, education, and adaptability in rapidly evolving critical care environments. Faculty within the division are deeply involved in training and mentoring critical care fellows, anesthesiology residents, medical students, and visiting learners, fostering a culture of curiosity, teamwork, and lifelong learning.  The critical care fellowship offers broad exposure to diverse patient populations and ICU models while preparing trainees for modern multidisciplinary critical care practice. In addition to our strong clinical mission, the division remains actively engaged in quality improvement, innovation, and scholarly activity aimed at advancing perioperative and critical care medicine.

Donor Care Center (DCC)

The division also plays a central role in Memorial Hermann Hospital’s organ donor care center (DCC), a specialized intensive care unit founded by Dr. George Williams in 2020, focused on caring for organ donors and supporting their families throughout the donation process. Staffed by anesthesia critical care intensivists, the DCC provides comprehensive donor management, including hemodynamic optimization, ventilatory management, procedural care, and perioperative support for organ procurement operations. Faculty within the division work closely with the regional organ procurement organization and transplant centers across the country to help maximize organ viability while honoring the wishes and legacy of our donors, whom we proudly refer to as “heroes.” The division is also involved in donation after circulatory death (DCD) processes and in multidisciplinary efforts to advance the quality and coordination of donor care.

Division Members

	Sven Asmussen MD, PhD Associate Professor, Critical Care Medicine
	Akshay Chaku, MD Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine ACCM Assistant Fellowship Program Director
	Ray Hwong, MD Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine
	Rishi Kumar, MD, FACC, CMQ Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine Medical Director - Donor Care Center
	Osamudiamen Obanor, MD Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine
	Ryan Rihani, MD Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine ACCM Fellowship Program Director
	June Tong, MD Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine
	Kelly West, MD Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine