Member Spotlights

Member Spotlight: Saranya Rajasekar, MD, FCCP

By Amy Kuyken posted 16 days ago
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Saranya Rajasekar, MD, FCCP, is an intensivist at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas, USA. She has been actively involved with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) since 2020. She is a member of the Internal Medicine and Respiratory Care specialty sections and was a 2024 Critical Care Congress abstract reviewer. Her clinical interests include ethics and end of life, infection, and sepsis. In her free time, you will find her gardening and traveling. Dr. Rajasekar shares her love of critical care and how SCCM membership helps her stay up to date. Why do you love being in critical care? It is one of the few professions where we encounter ...
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Member Spotlight: Alyssa Meester, PharmD, BCCCP

By Amy Kuyken posted 08-26-2024
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Alyssa Meester, PharmD, BCCCP, is a pharmacist at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, USA. She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2020, and is the membership committee chair for the Ohio Chapter of SCCM. When outside the ICU, she enjoys traveling and crocheting. Her clinical interests include cardiovascular, pulmonary, and shock. Get to know Dr. Meester and her love of all things critical care including SCCM. Why do you love being in critical care? As an ICU pharmacist, I love that my role gets to be so involved at the bedside and that I get to work closely with our ICU teams to navigate complex clinical ...
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Member Spotlight: Fajun Wang, MD

By Amy Kuyken posted 05-28-2024
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Fajun Wang, MD, is a physician at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He has been actively involved with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) since 2020 and is a member of the Leadership, Empowerment, and Development Committee and the Multiprofessional Critical Care Review: Adult Committee. When outside the ICU, he works out and snowboards. His clinical interests include neurology, professional development, and quality and patient safety. Dr. Wang shares his professional critical care story. Why do you love being in critical care? I am often motivated by the significant impact that I have on the lives of critically ...
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Member Spotlight: Shahla Siddiqui, MS, MD, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 04-29-2024
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Member Spotlight: Shahla Siddiqui, MS, MD, FCCM Shahla Siddiqui, MS, MD, FCCM, is a physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She has been actively involved with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) since 2001 and is a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the Leadership, Empowerment, and Development Committee. When outside the ICU, she is interested in gardening, traveling, and horses. Her clinical interests include cardiovascular, ethics, end of life, and sepsis. Dr. Siddiqui shares her love for critical care. Why do you love being in critical care? I love every single ...
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Member Spotlight: Sean G. Smith, MSc, CCRN, CEN, CPEN, RNC-NIC

By Amy Kuyken posted 03-25-2024
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Sean G. Smith, MSc, CCRN, CEN, CPEN, RNC-NIC, is a nurse at Critical-Care Professionals International in Graham, Florida, USA. He has been actively involved with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) since 2011 and is a member of the hemodynamic monitoring course task force. His hobbies include homesteading, languages, scuba diving, tropical/travel medicine, and working on vintage vehicles and guitar amplifiers. His clinical interests include resuscitation, shock, and trauma. Mr. Smith provides advice for those getting started and reflects on his critical care career journey. Why do you love being in critical care? Cross-pollination! As a ...
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Member Spotlight: Jennifer Axelband, DO, FACOEP, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 02-26-2024
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Jennifer Axelband, DO, FACOEP, FCCM, is a physician at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA. She has been actively involved with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) since 2005 and with the Osteopathic Medicine Section, serving as the 2023 and 2024 chair. In her free time, you will find her gardening, and providing care for rescue animals. Her clinical interests include neurology, sepsis, and organ donation and education. She reflects on the current challenges in critical care and her career. Why do you love being in critical care? Critical care challenges you to push harder, investigate more, and engage in the practice ...
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Member Spotlight: Cristin A. Mount, MD, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 11-27-2023
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Cristin A. Mount, MD, FCCM, is an associate professor of medicine at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Tacoma, Washington, USA. She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2007 and is currently chair of the Uniformed Services Section. You can find her gardening, practicing photography, or riding her Peloton when she is not busy with critical care. Learn more about Dr. Mount’s love for critical care and her career journey. How did you get into critical care? As a resident, I volunteered to cover holes in the ICU schedule. I really enjoyed being in the ICU; it was interesting and challenging. When I discovered there ...
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Member Spotlight: Brandon Oto, PA-C, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 10-30-2023
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Brandon Oto, PA-C, FCCM, is a physician assistant at Bridgeport Hospital, which is a member of Yale New Haven Health in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. He joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2017 and is currently the chair of the Accreditation and Learning Strategies Committee and a member of the ICU Liberation Committee. You can find him practicing photography, woodworking, or podcasting when he is not busy with critical care. Learn more about Mr. Oto’s love for critical care and his viewpoints about the future of the field. How did you get into critical care? After a career in emergency medical services, I transitioned to physician ...
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Member Spotlight: Elizabeth H. Mack, MD, MS, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 09-25-2023
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Elizabeth H. Mack, MD, MS, FCCM , is a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, and she is a principal of high reliability at Vizient Inc . She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2005, and you can listen as she hosts the SCCM podcast. You can find her working out, traveling, and spending time with her husband and fur babies when she is not working. Her clinical interests include pediatrics, ethics and end of life, and quality and patient safety. Learn more about Dr. Mack and her love for pediatric critical care. How did you get into critical care? I did acting internships in the ...
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Member Spotlight: Deanna Behrens, MD

By Amy Kuyken posted 09-05-2023
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Member Spotlight: Deanna Behrens, MD Deanna Behrens, MD , is a physician at the Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, USA . She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2014 and is active as a member of the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine ( PCCM ) editorial board and social media committee. In her free time, you will find her reading, traveling, and practicing yoga. Her clinical interests include patient and family support, pediatrics, ICU mobility, advocacy, and firearm injury prevention. Get to know Dr. Behrens and her love for critical care. How did you get into critical care? I worked on fluid and blood ...
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Member Spotlight: Fanny Li, BCCCP, PharmD

By Amy Kuyken posted 07-31-2023
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Fanny Li, BCCCP, PharmD, is the critical care pharmacy supervisor at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco, California, USA . She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2006 and stays active in the Society by regularly submitting and reviewing abstracts for Critical Care Congress. In her free time, you will find her gardening and painting. Her clinical interests include cardiovascular, pharmacology, and quality and patient safety. Dr. Li shares her love for critical care and her achievements in the field. How did you get into critical care? My initial goal post pharmacy school was to be a cardiology pharmacist. ...
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Member Spotlight: Javier Amador-Castaneda, BS, RRT

By Amy Kuyken posted 06-26-2023
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Javier Amador-Castaneda, BS, RRT, is a respiratory therapist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. He joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2018 and is a member of the Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) Program Committee; Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine, and Respiratory Care sections; and the Global Outreach knowledge education group. You can find Mr. Amador-Castaneda working out and traveling when he is not busy with critical care. Read more about his love of critical care. How did you get into critical care? I served in the U.S. Army National Guard, enlisting at 17. My first deployment to ...
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Member Spotlight: Kristie A. Hertel, MSN, CCRN, ACNP-BC, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 05-30-2023
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Kristie A. Hertel , MSN, CCRN, ACNP-BC, FCCM, is an advanced practice provider at Eastern Carolina University Health Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, USA. She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2007 and currently serves as the vice-chair of the Fundamental Critical Care Support Program Committee and chair of the Nursing Section. You can find Mrs. Hertel reading and traveling when she is not busy with critical care. Read more about her love for critical care. How did you get into critical care? My nursing career began as a bedside nurse on a medical/surgical [AK1] [EE2] ward. After a year, I ...
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Member Spotlight: Wendy Walker, PhD

By Amy Kuyken posted 04-24-2023
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Wendy Walker, PhD, is an assistant professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, Texas, USA. She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2017. She has presented at several Critical Care Congresses and is an active member of the Texas Chapter. You can find Dr. Walker running and enjoying the outdoors when she isn’t busy with critical care. Read more about her story below. What advice do you have for those starting their critical care careers? My advice for people starting a career in critical care research is to find a great mentor and strong collaborators. Why do you love being in critical care? Bacterial ...
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Member Spotlight: Jaspal Singh, MD, MS, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 03-27-2023
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Jaspal Singh, MD, MS, FCCM, is a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Atrium Health and Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. He joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2003 and is currently involved with SCCM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the Tele-Critical Care Collaborative Network. You can find him traveling and working out when he is not busy with critical care. Learn more about Dr. Singh’s love for critical care and his viewpoints about the future of the field. How did you get into critical care? I loved critical care as a medical student, from procedural elements to caring for some ...
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Member Spotlight: Mahmoud A. Ammar, PharmD, BCCCP, BCPS, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 02-27-2023
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Mahmoud A. Ammar, PharmD, BCCCP, BCPS, FCCM, is a clinical pharmacy specialist at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2014 and is currently involved with the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Research, and Surgery sections. Additionally, Dr. Anmar volunteers as a member of the Discovery Steering Committee and Discovery Datathon workgroup. You can find him playing music and working out when he is not busy with critical care. Learn more about Dr. Ammar’s professional journey and why he values SCCM membership. How did you get into critical care? I spent a month in the medical ...
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Member Spotlight: Jennifer L. LeTourneau, DO, MCR, FACP, FCCM

By Amy Kuyken posted 01-30-2023
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Jennifer L. LeTourneau, DO, MCR, FACP, FCCM, is a physician at Legacy Health in Portland, Oregon, USA. She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2006 and is vice-chair of the Graduate and Resident Education Committee. During her free time, she enjoys fishing and hiking. You can chat with her about her interests, including administration, professional development, and sepsis. Learn more about Dr. LeTourneau and her perspective on critical care. Why do you love being in critical care? I love critical care for the fast pace, pragmatic research, team-based practice, and interinstitutional collaboration on best practices. How did you get ...
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Member Spotlight: Rishikesan Kamaleswaran, PhD

By Amy Kuyken posted 12-26-2022
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Rishikesan Kamaleswaran, PhD, is an associate professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2018 and is involved on several committees. He is a co-vice-chair of the Data, Outcomes, and Definitions Work Group of Discovery, the Critical Care Research Network. In his free time, he enjoys photography, playing music, and traveling. His professional interests include research, sepsis, and shock. Learn more about what Dr. Kamaleswarn loves about critical care and what he views as the most challenging issue facing critical care. Why do you love being in critical care? Having witnessed my father ...
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Member Spotlight: Samuel M. Galvagno, Jr, DO, MS, PhD

By Amy Kuyken posted 11-28-2022
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Samuel M. Galvagno, Jr, DO, MS, PhD, is a physician at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2005 and is currently involved on several committees and is one of the authors of SCCM's Fundamentals of Critical Care Support: Obstetrics , 2nd edition. He enjoys flying planes, martial arts, and welding in his free time. His professional interests include research, resuscitation, and trauma. Learn more about Dr. Galvagno's journey into critical care and his advice for those just starting their careers. Why do you love being in critical care? My primary specialty, anesthesiology, was ...
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Member Spotlight: Charlotte Thomas, DNP-DNES, RN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN

By Kara Mercer posted 11-02-2022
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Charlotte Thomas, DNP-DNES, RN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, is the chief of advanced practice and critical care medicine at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista, California, USA. She joined the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in 2016 and has since actively participated by serving on several committees. Most recently, her committee involvement includes FCCS: Crisis Management, Quality and Safety Committee, and Patient Management During Disasters Program Task Force. In her free time, you will find her reading and working out. Her clinical interests include disaster preparedness and management, quality and patient safety, and professional development. Dr. Thomas ...
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