Anesthesia Faculty

Course Director

Matteo Parotto, MD

Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesia and Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine
University of Toronto
Department of Anesthesia & Pain Management
Toronto General Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Dr. Matteo Parotto is Staff Anesthesiologist and Intensivist at Toronto General Hospital, as well as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesia and Interdepartment Division of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Toronto. He has had the pleasure of working with doctors from around the globe, and is part of the Canadian Airway Focus Group.

Dr. Parotto’s advice to those working in airway management is to never be afraid to ask for help, and always keep up to date with modern practices. One of the moments he found the most educational was as a medical student, when he observed a doctor preparing for the emergence phase from anesthesia. “There was nothing particularly challenging about it, and he must have done this thousands of times in his career,” he said. “And yet, he remained very focused, and approached it quite meticulously. It taught me the respect that we must always have in patient care.”

Outside of the office, Dr. Parotto is likes to play soccer, volleyball, and basketball when he gets the chance.

Faculty

Raquel R. Bartz, MD, MMCi

Associate Chair of Critical Care Medicine
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Associate Professor of Anaesthesia
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts

Elizabeth Behringer, MD

Cardiac Surgical Intensivist
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
Los Angeles, California

Peter G. Brindley, MD, FRCPC, FRCP Edin

Associate Director, Intensive Care
Professor, Critical Care Medicine
Adjunct Professor, Dossetor Ethics Centre
Adjunct Professor, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Attending Physician, General Systems Intensive Care Unit
Attending Physician, NeuroSciences Intensive Care Unit
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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Dr. Peter G. Brindley is an Attending Physician and Associate Director in Intensive Care, as well as a Full Professor in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Alberta. He has 100 peer reviewed publications and manuscripts, including Airway Management Outside of the Operating Room: How to PREPARE.

Dr. Brindley says that “communication is the most dangerous procedure in the hospital.” Nothing can go right unless everyone is on the same page, working together. Being in constant communication with colleagues is the only way to ensure that everything will go to plan. When teaching students, he sees the key to success is to go beyond basic instruction and procedures, “I really enjoy teaching people to think rather than just ‘do this, don’t do that.’”

Dr. Brindley loves hiking, biking, kayaking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. He also enjoys eating comfort food from his home country, England.

Davide Cattano, MD, PhD, FASA, CMQ

Professor, Department of Anesthesiology
Adjunct Professor, Department of ORL
McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston
Medical Director, Anesthesia Clinic,
Anesthesia Service Chief for Head & Neck Surgery
Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC
Adjunct Professor, School of Dentistry, Department OMFS, UTHealth
Adjunct Professor, MAA Program, Case Western Reserve University

Joanne Donnelly

Chief CRNA
American Anesthesiology MN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Adjunct Faculty
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Nashville, Tennessee

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Joanne Donnelly is the Chief CRNA at American Anesthesiology in Minneapolis, MN. She received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University.

Donnelly believes that the best way to master skills in airway management is to always practice. “Don’t use the skills you need to save a life only when you need them,” she says. While studying at Columbia, she found excellent mentors that inspired her to get into teaching. Every time she teaches something, she feels like she is getting something back. She loves the contagious enthusiasm learners have, and enjoys hearing about their unique perspectives.

When Donnelly was younger, she was an Irish Step Dancer. Now, she is a marathon runner, and considers motherhood the best job life has to offer.

Tristan Dumbarton, MSc, MD, FRCPC

Pediatric Anesthesiologist
IWK Health Centre
Assistant Professor
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada

Lorraine J. Foley, MD

Staff Anesthesiologist
Winchester Hospital
Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesia
Tufts School of Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts

Eric A. Harris, MD

Director of Alternate Site Anesthesia
Jackson Memorial Hospital
Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology
University of Miami School of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Orlando Hung, MD

Staff Neuroanesthesiologist
QEII Health Sciences Center
Professor, Department of Anesthesia
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Liane B. Johnson, MDCM, FRCSC, FACS

Associate Professor
Department of Surgery
Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Dalhousie University, Halifax
Nova Scotia, Canada

Neil Klassen, MD

Royal Alexandra Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Rebecca Klinger, MD, MS

Associate Professor
Section Chief, Thoracic Anesthesia
Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
Department of Anesthesiology
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

J. Adam Law, MD

Director, The Difficult Airway Course: Anesthesia
Professor, Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine and Surgery
Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine
Attending Neuroanesthesiologist
Associate Head, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine
QEII Health Sciences Center
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Dr. J. Adam Law received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he is currently the Deputy Head of the Faculty of Medicine: Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine.

Law finds teaching to be a privilege, and loves being challenged by his students, whom he learns from every day. His advice to those learning more about airway management is to seek hands on experience, and to always start with the basics. “Get experience managing normal airways first,” he says. “That way you have a good base to the pyramid when it comes to managing difficult ones.”

When Law has a rare moment of free time, he likes to hike, play tennis, and spend time with family.

Kirk MacQuarrie, MD

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Neurosurgery & Emergency Medicine
Dalhousie University
QEII Health Sciences Center
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Dr. Kirk MacQaurrie is currently an Associate Professor of Anesthesia and Surgery, and Emergency Medicine at Dalhousie University. He is also one of the original developers of the Airway Intervention Management Education course in Canada.

When it comes to airway management, he sees one of the highlights of his career as “helping to bridge the gap between anesthesia and emergency medicine.” His favorite part of teaching is seeing students experience light bulb moments, when a new concept or skill finally clicks with them.

Outside of work, Dr. MacQuarrie loves to travel, and especially appreciates the chance to go off the grid. He is happily married, has three dogs, and three sons.

Robert W. Matthews, CRNA, PhD

Staff CRNA
Department of Anesthesia
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Dr. Robert W. Matthews is a Chair for the International Review Board Committee at the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Matthews’ favorite part of teaching is the interactions with other instructors and attendees, as he gets to hear about their unique cases and approaches to different situations. He thinks it is essential to consider all components of airway management for each and every patient. “Don’t be afraid to involve your patient during the formation of your airway management plan,” he says.

Holly A. Muir, MD

Vice Chair of Clinical Operations
Department of Anesthesia
Chief, Division of Women's Anesthesia
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina

Michael F. Murphy, MD, FRCPC (EM), FRCPC (Anes.)

Practice Medical Director
St. Joseph's Hospital
South Tampa, Florida
Professor Emeritus, Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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Michael F. Murphy is a Practicing Anesthesiologist with American Anesthesiology and Professor Emeritus at University of Alberta. He has designed and implemented EMS systems in eastern Canada and the Caribbean. He has also edited the Manual of Emergency Airway Management (Walls Murphy) and Difficult and Failed Airway Management (Hung Murphy).

Dr. Murphy’s advice to students is to always learn from masters, and focus on people who are truly doing things. He got into teaching so he could expand the impact of his work. “I have always felt I could save more lives by teaching,” he says. He finds the best part of his job to be learning that what he taught ended up saving a life.

“I get a great deal of reward in knowing that I have contributed to the next generation of airway educators, researchers and managers,” he says.

Bruce Ramsey, MD

Clinical Associate Professor
University of Alberta
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Felipe Urdaneta, MD

Professor of Anesthesiology
Program Director, College of Medicine's Master Educator
Fellowship Program
University of Florida College of Medicine
Gainesville, Florida