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Message from the Medical Director:
Laerdal SimBaby Training Course
With the arrival of our newest manikin, the SimBaby, the department hosted an educational course for the simulation instructors on October 28. Hantz Leger, Michael La Force, Epstein Jacob, Jeron Estwick, Tyron Carroll-Davis, Monique Henning, Dr. Sean Kelly, Dr. Greesha Pednekar, and Dr. Ganghadharan attended and were instructed on manikin operation and simulation module creation. The arrival of our new Draeger Perseus anesthesia machine in conjunction with the SimBaby will allow us to simulate pediatric anesthesia scenarios with greater accuracy and realism.
MOCA Halloween Edition
Bijitha and Alexa joined us for our October MOCA session and did great! Thank you both for participating. Monique, despite still recovering from being ill, powered through and helped coordinate the course – thank you! Alexa’s case involved a crisis situation, but she was on top of it and impressively managed the code. With all the commotion, you may have thought I wasn’t watching, but I was – kudos, Alexa!
Dr. Naveen Vanga |
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Message from the Program Director:
We don’t have to treat every challenge in life like IKEA furniture. In most cases, instructions (like policy manuals and guidelines) should not be ignored just because we think we know better.
More often then not, the wiser move is setting pride aside, opening the manual, and saving ourselves from ending up with a chair full of leftover screws, wondering, “Huh… I wonder what were those for.”
Charlie Phung, CAA |
Welcome to the Department:
Introducing Our Newest Team Members
Grizelda (Grace) Cavazos joins us as the new Senior Program Manager for the UTHealth Houston Master of Science in Anesthesia (MSA) Program. She brings over 15 years of experience in graduate medical education, program administration, and accreditation, having held leadership roles at UTHealth Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Baylor College of Medicine–Texas Children’s Hospital. Most recently, Grizelda Cavazos served as the Institutional ACGME Coordinator at UTHealth Houston. She hit the ground running upon her arrival and has already accomplished wonderful things for the program, including launching this newsletter! Please join us in welcoming Grizelda Cavazos!
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| Salma Chavira will be joining us as an Administrative Assistant beginning November 10, 2025. She is currently part of the Department of Anesthesiology, where she works in the Chair’s Suite, and will be transferring over to MSA. We’re thrilled to have her bring her experience, positivity, and dedication to our team.
Salma’s interests and hobbies include playing soccer, weightlifting, and spending time with her corgi.
Be sure to say hello and give her a big MSA welcome when you see her. We’re so excited to have her on board! |
Student Spotlight
Hannah Mathews
This month, we’re proud to recognize MSA Student Hannah Mathews for her outstanding performance in the Anesthesia Clinic. A staff member recently shared glowing feedback about Hannah’s contributions:
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with an awesome AA Student, Hannah Mathews, several times in the Anesthesia Clinic and wanted to give her a shoutout. She is doing an excellent job. She is thorough and organized in her presentations of the patient’s medical histories, is efficient in putting together a detailed pre-op, and is very knowledgeable and thinks critically about what is needed in terms of testing and workup to prepare the patient for surgery. All the staff has enjoyed working with her too!”
Hannah’s dedication, clinical insight, and collaborative spirit make her a standout student.. Keep up the great work, Hannah! |
Events & Opportinities
11/21/2025 MSA Thanksgiving Potluck
Sign Up coming soon
11/22/2025 For second-year students, USAP is holding a Regional Anesthesia & Ultrasound Guided Blocks workshop on Saturday, November 22nd from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
Topics covered:
- Ultrasound 101, QL, TAP, Subcostal, Rectus, Interscalene blocks, and more
Location:
USAP Houston Office
1500 City West Blvd, Suite 300
Houston, TX
Food will be served!
Registration Link |
MSA Halloween Bash
Dressed as everything from spooky skeletons to giggling founding fathers, the MSA students turned the 2025 Halloween Bash into a delightful swirl of laughter and fun! Between bites of candy corn and sips of witchy punch, they danced under twinkling cobweb lights, showing off their best monster moves. The themed costume contest was a scream, with one or more students rocking a “Charlie” look that had everyone giggling. Amid the spider webs and festive chaos, these future anesthetists proved they know how to bring the party to life before gently putting it to sleep again! |
November Birthdays
Maheswar Ajaykumar 11/12
Thi Pham 11/16
Jeron Estwick 11/23
Marcy Samadi 11/24
Diana Huynh 11/29 |
November Inspiration
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more.
— Melody Beattie
As we move into November, let’s take a moment to appreciate one another, the hard work, kindness, and dedication that make our community so strong. Whether you’re learning, teaching, or supporting behind the scenes, your efforts make a difference every day. Let’s carry gratitude with us into all we do this season! |
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