Our Team

Faculty

Amy Graham-Carlson, MD was born and raised in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. She earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Following graduation, she worked as an intensive care unit nurse for three years, an experience that strongly shaped her clinical perspective and influenced her decision to pursue a career in anesthesiology.

Dr. Graham-Carlson attended medical school at UTHealth McGovern Medical School. Her background in nursing, combined with a passion for caring for children and an appreciation for the breadth and complexity of pediatric cases, made pediatric anesthesiology a natural fit. She completed her pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital through Baylor College of Medicine.

After fellowship, Dr. Graham-Carlson returned to UTHealth to join the faculty, where she now serves as Director of Clinical Operations for General Pediatric Anesthesiology. She was drawn by the challenging clinical environment, opportunities to teach residents and other trainees, and a departmental culture in which women are supported and empowered to succeed.

Her clinical interests include quality improvement in neonatal anesthesia, pediatric patient blood management, and pediatric sedation.

Outside of work, Dr. Graham-Carlson enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. Her personal interests include running, cooking, hiking in the Texas Hill Country, and sewing—an acquired hobby from the COVID era.

 

Ashley Upton, MD  was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended medical school at UTHealth McGovern Medical School, where she also completed her anesthesiology residency and pediatric anesthesiology fellowship training.

Dr. Upton has a strong passion for working with children, which led her to pursue subspecialty training in pediatric anesthesiology. She chose to remain at UTHealth following fellowship due to its location in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, the diversity and complexity of clinical cases, and the continued opportunities for professional growth.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Upton serves as the Director of Outside Rotators, where she helps coordinate and support visiting trainees and fosters a welcoming, educational environment for learners rotating through the department.

In her free time, Dr. Upton enjoys traveling with her daughter and spending time with family and friends.

 

Christina Williams, MD was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. After earning a medical degree from Stanford University, Dr. Williams completed a combined residency in Pediatrics and Anesthesiology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. She holds triple board certification in Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, and Pediatric Anesthesiology.

In addition to providing safe, individualized, and family-centered perioperative care, Dr. Williams has academic interests in environmental sustainability in healthcare, pediatric pain medicine, resident education, and operating room efficiency.

In her life outside of medicine, she is usually running after her children in Hermann Park or wandering the aisles of Trader Joe’s.

 

Eric Nesrsta, MD is a pediatric anesthesiologist with specialized expertise in fetal anesthesiology, advanced airway management, and complex intravenous access. In addition to clinical care, Dr. Nesrsta oversees departmental scheduling, helping ensure seamless coordination and high-quality care for patients and families.

Raised in the Houston area, Dr. Nesrsta brings a strong local connection to his practice. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he developed a foundation of leadership, discipline, and service that continues to inform his medical career. He completed medical school, anesthesiology residency, and pediatric anesthesiology fellowship training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Within the division, Dr. Nesrsta also serves as the perioperative Swiss Army knife and facilities aesthetic manager, fostering a supportive, collaborative culture among faculty, trainees, and staff. He is deeply committed to patient safety, team-based care, and maintaining excellence in both clinical practice and workplace well-being.

 

Greesha Pednekar, MD was born and raised in Mumbai, India, one of the busiest cities in the world. She completed her medical training at Mahatma Gandhi Mission’s Medical College in India. Having trained in both India and the United States, Dr. Pednekar brings a unique global perspective to her practice and has experienced the best of both healthcare systems.

Dr. Pednekar chose to pursue pediatric anesthesiology because of the deep fulfillment that comes from caring for children, a decision she describes as one of the best of her life. She greatly enjoyed her time at UTHealth during residency and elected to return after fellowship training to join the pediatric anesthesiology faculty. Houston’s vibrant diversity and cultural richness remind her of home.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Pednekar is actively involved in simulation and medical education, with a focus on training residents and fellows through high-fidelity simulation and hands-on teaching to enhance patient safety and clinical preparedness.

In her free time, she enjoys exploring Houston’s museums and walking along the bayou trails.

 

Dr. Carbajal did her undergrad at University of Houston.  She was fortunate to stay in her hometown and obtain her MD at McGovern Medical School.  She did her anesthesiology residency at McGovern affiliated hospitals and finished her fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor School of Medicine.  She has been with McGovern’s department of Anesthesiology as faculty since 2006. Dr.  Carbajal is happily married and is Mom to her chihuahua Camila and her cat Spencer.  In her free time, she enjoys reading and exercising.

 

 

 

Jon O’Doherty, MD was born and raised in the UK but now proudly calls Houston home. He completed his pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at UTHealth Houston.

He enjoys teaching and supporting trainees, as well as experimenting with practical educational tools designed to make learning anesthesia easier, faster, and a bit more fun.

Outside of the OR, Jon spends time with his family, tinkers with far too many side projects, and continues trying to convince himself that his garage gym counts as a legitimate hobby.

 

Born and educated in Poland, Katarzyna E. Sledz Dlugosz, MD completed six years of formal music training in piano before earning her medical degree from the Medical University of Lublin. She began her anesthesiology and intensive care residency at the Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw and continued specialty training at Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow, later joining the faculty in Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Care.

In 2018, she completed a Pediatric Cardiac ICU observership at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and subsequently advanced her practice at the Upper Silesian Child Care Center in Katowice. She later returned to the U.S. for a Pediatric Cardiovascular Anesthesiology Fellowship at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, after which she joined the Pediatric Anesthesiology Department.

Deeply passionate about people and personal development, she has completed a mindfulness course, Gestalt psychotherapy training, and participates in the Elevate Program at McGovern Medical School, focusing on Imposter Syndrome and faculty development.

In her free time, she enjoys family life with her husband and three children, along with long walks with their dog.

 

Maria Matuszczak, MD grew up in Germany, went to medical School in Belgium and later moved back to Germany for Anesthesia Residency and Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship. Dr. Matuszczak has played an instrumental role in developing the Pediatric Anesthesiology department at McGovern Medical School/UT Houston with countless Quality Improvement Projects, Research, Publications and Initiatives to promote patient safety and resident/fellow education. A big proponent of faculty development and airway management, she loves teaching and her job. She is fluent in German, French and English. Outside work, Dr. Matuszczak plays piano recitals in large crowds and competitions. In spare time, she loves to ski, bake, read and travel.

 

Dr. Meera Gangadharan is a pediatrician- pediatric anesthesiologist.  Her special interests are disaster preparedness, trauma, procedural sedation, cardiac anesthesia and education. An avid supporter of all trainees, she is always happy to hear a joke, see a smile and share good news.

 

 

 

 

 

Neale Clark, MD was born and raised in Austin and Fort Worth, Texas. He earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin before attending medical school at UTHealth McGovern Medical School. Dr. Clark then ventured outside of Texas to complete his anesthesiology residency at Emory University. Following residency, he returned to Texas to complete his pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas before ultimately coming back to Houston, where his wife, Haley, is from.

Dr. Clark joined the UTHealth pediatric anesthesia faculty feeling immediately welcomed and at home, having been familiar with the program and several faculty members from his time as a medical student. He serves as Head of the Spine Team, collaborating closely with multidisciplinary surgical teams. He values the shared passion within the division for high-quality clinical care, caring for children, teaching residents and fellows, and fostering strong camaraderie among colleagues and the perioperative team.

Outside of work, Dr. Clark spends most of his free time with his family, including his wife Haley and their three children. He is an avid film enthusiast and collector. His longest-standing passion is playing the piano, which he has played by ear since the age of five. Although he trained in classical piano during his younger years, he now primarily enjoys playing popular music and jazz/blues standards at home.

 

Nischal Gautam, MD is Professor of Anesthesiology and Vice Chair & Division Chief of Pediatric Anesthesiology at McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston. A fellowship-trained pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, he helps oversee perioperative care for children at Children’s Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center. Nationally, he contributes through committee service, board membership with the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society, prior leadership as Program Chair for its 2025 annual meeting, and work as a Senior Board Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Gautam has been recognized with awards for teaching, research, leadership, quality improvement, and scientific presentation. He is actively engaged in clinical research and mentorship, aiming to improve the safety and outcomes of children undergoing anesthesia. His academic work includes publications, invited lectures, and editorial roles, with a particular interest in simple practical solutions that enhance quality of care. Dedicated to training future anesthesiologists, he supports learners across all stages of education. He also extends his efforts globally through charitable cardiovascular missions and ongoing community service.

 

Nitin Wadhwa, MD was born in Delhi, India and moved to Houston, Texas when he was 10 years old.  He attended medical school at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, followed by anesthesiology residency at Northwestern’s McGaw Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.  He returned to Houston to complete his pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital.  He has been faculty in the Department of Anesthesiology at McGovern Medical School since 2009.  He currently serves as the Assistant Program Fellowship Director. Dr. Wadhwa takes great pride in taking care of pediatric patients and enjoys all aspects of pediatric anesthesiology.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, traveling to new places, exploring different cuisines, and working out.

 

Rachel Rhem, MD is a pediatric anesthesiologist and an integral member of both the fetal anesthesia team and the pain management team. She is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based anesthetic care for children and complex maternal–fetal cases.

Dr. Rhem completed her anesthesiology residency at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas, followed by a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. She remained on faculty at Dallas Children’s for three years, where she gained extensive clinical experience and worked closely with multidisciplinary teams, before joining UTHealth Houston.

In addition to her clinical roles, Dr. Rhem has a strong interest in resident and fellow education and is dedicated to mentoring trainees in both the operating room and academic settings. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two sons.

 

Rhashedah Ekeoduru, MD is an academic Pediatric Anesthesiologist and a clinical medical ethicist and ethics consultant. Dr. Ekeoduru earned a BA in Chemistry with a Concentration in Global Development Studies from Grinnell College and her MD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She completed professional training at the University of Southern California (USC) and clinical ethics training at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr. Ekeoduru serves as a faculty instructor for several ethics and professionalism courses at McGovern Medical School. She leads case-based discussions designed to promote dialogue and enhance medical student comprehension of ethical dilemmas. She also teaches ethics-based workshops and gives related lectures at the national level. Lastly, Dr. Ekeoduru is a mentor for medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty members. Her collaborative efforts with her students and colleagues have resulted in numerous publications, presentations, and invited speaking engagements. She has been recognized for her educational contributions by receipt of the Dean’s Teaching Award and acceptance to the McGovern Academy of Master Educators program.

 

Sabina Khan, MD is an Associate Professor and Program Director in Pediatric Anesthesiology at UT Houston/McGovern Medical School. A foreign medical graduate from Pakistan, she completed her Anesthesiology Residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2014 and a Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship at UT Houston in 2015. After a faculty appointment at UT and two years at the only Children’s Hospital in the UAE, Dr. Khan returned to Houston, where she was later appointed as the Program Director.

A member of The Academy of Master Educators at UT and two-time recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education, Dr. Khan serves as an elected board member of the Pediatric Anesthesia Program Directors Association (PAPDA). She is actively involved in institutional and regional committees including the Anesthesiology Perioperative Excellence Grand Rounds Planning Committee and the Pediatric Anesthesia Committee, and participates in professional societies such as the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and Texas Society of Anesthesiologists (TSA). She is passionate about fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all trainees and faculty can thrive.

Nationally and internationally, Dr. Khan contributes to workshops, presentations, and research projects. She also authored the Pediatric Faculty Handbook, streamlining the onboarding process and supporting new faculty across the department. Her clinical and educational interests include patient safety, quality improvement initiatives, collaborative educational projects, educational outreach, and mentorship.

Outside of work, Dr. Khan enjoys exploring Houston’s vibrant culinary scene, traveling, and spending time with her family. She lives by her motto: T.E.A.M.—Together Everyone Achieves More.

 

Sarah Chehab MD grew up in both Dallas, TX and Lebanon. She went to medical school at Texas A&M, completed anesthesia residency at UTMB and Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship at UTSW. Dr. Chehab chose pediatric anesthesia because it fits everything that she was looking for: vigilance, attention to detail, and building rapport with patients and their families in a short amount of time. It is also extremely rewarding to take care of children and be able to comfort them during some of the most stressful times in their lives. Dr. Chehab is in charge of the schedule and has also authored a pediatric handbook for the new rotating pediatric residents to help get acclimated with the rotation.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four cats. She loves exploring Houston, trying new restaurants, and traveling.

 

Sherline David, DO went to UT Austin for undergraduation, Medical School at UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth, and both Pediatric and Anesthesiology residencies at Baylor Scott and White in Temple, TX. She did her Pediatric Anesthesiology fellowship at UT Houston and stayed on as staff! Dr. David says,” I love my job and so excited to see all the opportunities to come!”

Her passion has always been to work with kids! She was a pediatrician and now a Pediatric Anesthesiologist! Her passion is to handle difficult airway cases. The best part of her job is the people she works with! It is a big UT family!

 

 

 

 

 

Vishwas (Vish) Seshachellam, DO was born and raised in Sacramento, California. He went to medical school at Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ after which he completed anesthesiology residency at McGovern Medical School. As a patient at an early age himself, he empathizes with pediatric surgical patients, influencing him to complete his fellowship training in pediatric anesthesiology at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. He proceeded to join as faculty where he trained, at McGovern Medical School as he enjoys giving back to the very program that raised him as a resident.

His clinical interests include clinical teaching of residents, fellows, and medical students in the operating room.

Outside of the operating room, he is a die-hard Sacramento Kings fan, enjoys golfing, and spending time with his wife and son.

 

 

 

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)

Alex Sackey, CRNA was born and raised in Ghana. He has lived most of his adult life in the U.S. His worn out cowboy boots are evidence of how long he has lived in Texas. He attended the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing Anesthesia. He is fortunate to be working with an awesome pediatric anesthesia staff. When he is not administering anesthesia, he enjoys watching sports and listening to music.

 

 

 

 

 

Anesthesiology Assistants

Elizabeth Rugutt, CAA grew up in New England before moving to Texas where she completed her Bachelor degree in science graduating summa cum laude from the University of Texas of Permian Basin. She earned her Master of Science in Anesthesia degree from the Case Western Reserve University. Working at Memorial Hermann TMC allows her to realize her professional goal of taking care of children in need of anesthesia services. Her other interest include reading, playing the piano, and developing her novice green thumb.

 

 

Jared Osei, CAA was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Sam Houston State University, with minors in Biology and Psychology, and went on to complete his Master of Science in Anesthesia at Case Western Reserve University in Washington, DC. Prior to anesthesia training, Jared worked as an elementary school teacher and as a pharmacy technician at Memorial Hermann, experiences that reinforced the importance of compassion, attention to detail, and patient safety in clinical care. He finds caring for pediatric patients especially rewarding and values the precision and vigilance required in pediatric anesthesia. After graduating as an Anesthesiologist Assistant, he continued to serve as a substitute educator before joining UTHealth, returning to the UT and Memorial Hermann system that played a pivotal role in his professional development. Outside of work, Jared enjoys cooking, traveling, watching anime, and catching up on sleep.

 

Michael Howze, CAA grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He completed his Master of Health Science in Anesthesia at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his graduate education in clinical bioethics at Wake Forest University. Michael finds caring for children and working with their families to be extremely fulfilling and values the supportive, collaborative culture within the UTHealth pediatric anesthesiology department. Michael’s other interests include fitness, music, and community involvement.