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Candidates for Upcoming Elections - AACPD

2026 AACPD Council Candidates

Listed Alphabetically by Last Name

Candidates for Councilor (4 Positions)
Candidates for Councilor (4 Positions)
Farzana Afroze, MD

Albany Medical Center

Why are you interested in running?

Serving as a residency program director has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. It has also taught me that many of the challenges we face as program directors are shared across institutions, and that some of our best solutions come from learning from and supporting one another. My passion for academic medicine and mentorship initially drew me to graduate medical education, and through my involvement in GME and regional and national anesthesiology organizations, my interests in mentorship, resident advocacy, educational innovation, and collaborative problem-solving have continued to grow. I would welcome the opportunity to bring the perspective of an active program director to the AACPD Council while also learning from colleagues across the country.

Coming from a relatively small program outside a major metropolitan area, I understand the unique challenges programs like ours face, particularly with resident recruitment and retention. If elected, I would like to be a voice for these programs and help create more opportunities for program directors to share practical strategies around recruitment, signaling, evolving ABA policies, and other challenges affecting residency education. I am also particularly interested in strengthening mentorship and resources for new program directors and creating opportunities for residents to develop as future educators and leaders. Most importantly, I hope to contribute to AACPD's collaborative community, where program directors can learn from one another, advocate for our trainees, and work together to advance our specialty nationally.

Bio

Farzana Afroze, MD, is a pediatric anesthesiologist and Professor of Anesthesiology at Albany Medical Center. After serving as Associate Program Director for five years, she became Residency Program Director in 2023. Teaching and mentorship have been some of the most rewarding parts of her academic career. She enjoys working closely with medical students and residents, helping them navigate training, explore careers in anesthesiology, and grow into confident physicians and future leaders. Her educational interests include curriculum development, resident assessment and professional development, and creating a supportive learning environment where trainees can succeed.

Dr. Afroze is also actively involved in organized anesthesiology at the state and national levels. She currently serves as Vice Speaker of the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists House of Delegates and as an ASA Delegate from New York and has held several leadership roles within NYSSA focused on advocacy, governance, and resident engagement. She is passionate about mentorship and developing the next generation of anesthesiologists and values collaboration among educators to address the evolving challenges facing residency programs and graduate medical education.

David A. Broadbent, MD

Allegheny Health Network

Why are you interested in running?

I would be honored to serve as a Councilor for the AACPD, and view this role as a meaningful way to give back to a community that has been tremendously impactful to my development as a (relatively) young program director. The collective experience, mentorship, openness, and collegiality within the AACPD has helped shape my growth as an educator and program leader, particularly as I navigated the challenges and responsibilities that accompany leading a residency program early in my career. I see service as a Councilor as an opportunity to contribute that same sense of mentorship and community to others, while helping bridge generations of program directors—pairing the wisdom and institutional knowledge of experienced leaders with the perspectives, energy, and evolving needs of our future program directors.

I am also particularly interested in helping bridge the divide that can exist between traditional academic programs and community-based or hybrid training environments. Despite differences in institutional structure, resources, and clinical settings, we share a common responsibility to prepare outstanding anesthesiologists and to strengthen our specialty. As a Councilor, I would hope to help align our national goals, standards, and expectations—not only for the physicians we train, but also for the programs entrusted with training them. By creating greater consensus around what excellence in anesthesiology education should look like while respecting the diversity of pathways through which programs achieve it, I believe the AACPD can continue to elevate residency education nationally and ensure that our programs evolve together in service of our trainees, our specialty, and ultimately our patients.

Bio

I currently serve as the Residency Program Director at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) in Pittsburgh, PA. I have served on faculty since completing residency training in 2020. I previously served as Associate Residency Program Director from 2021 to 2023 and hold faculty appointments of Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine. My commitment to education has been recognized with the 2026 Drexel University College of Medicine Dean’s Special Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, the 2026 NEOMED Emerging Leader Award, and multiple awards as AHN’s Faculty Educator of The Year.

In my roles, I have developed and led numerous educational initiatives spanning resident and medical student education, including longitudinal oral board preparation, journal club, intraoperative keyword-based teaching, mentorship programs, simulation curricula, and structured approaches to learner and residency applicant assessment. As a relatively early-career program director, I have found the mentorship, collaboration, and shared expertise of the AACPD community invaluable to my own development.

Jack Buckley, MD

UCLA

Why are you interested in running?

I first got involved in residency leadership in 2013 as the assistant program director of our residency program and I ultimately took over as the program director in 2020.  During this time I have experienced many of the struggles common to all of us in residency leadership positions and one of my greatest resources to address these challenges was the SAAAPM and my fellow program directors.  The SAAAPM has done a great deal of work over the last 13 years to help programs including creating mentorship program for new program directors, new program director manual, the creation of the signaling system and obviously the annual meeting.  Each one of these projects would not exist without the hard work of the SAAAPM.  I would like to request your support so that I could join the council and contribute to future projects to help my fellow colleagues.  One potential area I would like to work on is creating a repository of common documents and policies needed by every residency program.  Instead of each of us trying to create or update an old policy I think it would be useful to create a central source where residency programs could share policies or other similar documents.

Bio

I first got involved in residency leadership in 2013 as the assistant program director of our residency program and I ultimately took over as the program director in 2020.  During this time I have experienced many of the struggles common to all of us in residency leadership positions and one of my greatest resources to address these challenges was the SAAAPM and my fellow program directors.  The SAAAPM has done a great deal of work over the last 13 years to help programs including creating mentorship program for new program directors, new program director manual, the creation of the signaling system and obviously the annual meeting.  Each one of these projects would not exist without the hard work of the SAAAPM.  I would like to request your support so that I could join the council and contribute to future projects to help my fellow colleagues.  One potential area I would like to work on is creating a repository of common documents and policies needed by every residency program.  Instead of each of us trying to create or update an old policy I think it would be useful to create a central source where residency programs could share policies or other similar documents.

Jason Buehler, MD

University of Tennessee, Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine- Knoxville

Why are you interested in running?

I am seeking election to the AACPD Council because I believe program directors benefit most when we share practical approaches to the complex systems challenges we face. In my roles as residency program director and vice chair for education, I have led efforts involving program growth, continuous program improvement, curriculum and scheduling redesign, resident assessment and support, faculty development, and the balance between education and clinical service. These experiences have reinforced that durable improvement rarely comes from a single intervention; it requires careful attention to people, processes, resources, and institutional relationships.

If elected, I would welcome the opportunity to help AACPD develop collaborative, adaptable resources that support program leaders in navigating these challenges. My particular interests include strengthening systems for resident assessment and individualized learning, improving the usefulness of faculty feedback, supporting struggling residents, responsibly incorporating emerging technologies, and helping programs protect education within demanding clinical environments. Having benefited greatly from the candid exchange of experience within AACPD, I would be grateful for the opportunity to listen, contribute, and work alongside colleagues on behalf of our program director community.

Bio

Jason Buehler, MD, is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Vice Chair for Education, and Residency Program Director at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine–Knoxville. He leads a growing residency program based at a high-volume academic medical center serving as the region’s Level I trauma and tertiary referral center. He completed anesthesiology residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he served as chief resident, followed by fellowship training in Pain Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He also serves as an examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology.

His educational interests include residency program improvement, resident assessment and feedback, individualized learning, faculty development, and the responsible application of artificial intelligence in education. He has presented at recent AACPD meetings on AI-enhanced education and lessons learned from annual program site visits and is scheduled to present the use of AI-assisted individualized learning plans at the 2026 meeting.

Marianne Chen, MD

Stanford University

Why are you interested in running?

I am excited to submit my candidacy for a position on the AACPD leadership council. I have been on faculty at Stanford University Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine since 2014 and been the residency program director since 2023. My career thus far has been shaped by my passion for enhancing the training and education of anesthesiology residents as well as developing and mentoring faculty with similar medical education interests and passions. I remember fondly my very first SAAAPM meeting when I was an associate program director. It was a combination of feeling awe for all the amazing educators and leaders I met (with some imposter syndrome!), relief that our resident issues were similar to many programs across the country, and inspiration to bring back ideas from the meeting to further improve our residency program. The SAAAPM annual meeting has continued to be my favorite and most impactful meeting each year and I feel very honored to be a member of this welcoming and collaborative community.  As a program director, I have also benefited from the AACPD mentorship program, program director manual, and online discussions on important residency topics. SAAAPM and AACPD have provided me with so much support and inspiration as a program director and I’d like to be on the council to further the ideas, innovations, and programming to better serve its members, ensuring that we collectively advance the specialty of anesthesiology and our training programs.

Anesthesiology residency continues to evolve in both expected and unexpected ways. New education technology will stretch us in how we think about incorporating these innovations in our clinical training, our didactics, and our assessments and evaluations. Increases in residents unionizing across the country may affect our education leadership relationships with both our residents and the hospital where we work. We also need to advocate for our learners and our programs when ACGME or ABA introduces new requirements/policies. As a councilor, I hope to use my experiences and passion to build upon the work that AACPD has already done to advocate for, mentor, and educate our great community of leaders as we together navigate the exciting yet sometimes daunting evolutions in anesthesiology residency. I envision strengthening the opportunities for program leaders to share resources and best practices, creating more opportunities to collaborate and implement initiatives with SEA and ABA, and continuing to plan impactful annual meetings that are informative and inspirational. Thank you for considering me for the AACPD councilor position!

Bio

Marianne Chen M.D. is a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine.  She received her B.A. from Pomona College, studying chemistry and music, and her M.D. from Boston University School of Medicine. She completed her anesthesia residency and critical care medicine fellowship at Stanford before joining the faculty in 2014.  Dr. Chen clinically specializes in the care for patients undergoing liver transplantation. 

She has held various leadership roles within medical education and is currently the program director of the Stanford anesthesiology residency program. Her interests in medical education include feedback practices, faculty development of educators, and point of care ultrasound teaching.  She directs the Stanford Anesthesiology Teaching Scholars Program and is part of the Stanford Medicine Health Professions Education and Scholarship Program leadership team. Nationally, she has been involved with various education committees with the Society of Education in Anesthesia and the American Society of Anesthesiologists and has been an invited presenter speaking about her work in graduate medical education. She is the co-host of the podcast, “PDs at SEA,” which focuses on conversations created for anesthesiology residency leaders, faculty, trainees, and students who want an honest look into the evolving world of anesthesia education. With her husband and daughter, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and cheering on the Stanford athletic teams.

Maggie Coppinger, MD, MS

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Why are you interested in running?

One of the things I have found most valuable since becoming a program director has been learning from other PDs who, despite running different programs and working in different institutions, are dealing with many of the same challenges.  In my first three years as PD, I encountered (or inherited) more than a few situations without an obvious playbook, and SAAAPM has been where I could compare approaches, hear what has worked for others (and what hasn't), and learn from those with more experience. I come back from the annual meeting every year with tangible ideas that I end up bringing to our own program.

I am running for Councilor because I would like to contribute more actively to that community.  I want to help shape the annual meeting programming around real problems program leaders are facing, but I am equally interested in what SAAAPM can do between meetings.  When I became PD, everyone told me to reach out to other programs, but outside of the annual meeting, I didn't always know where to start or whether my questions were ones I should already know the answers to. I'd like to help make those connections easier and more obvious, particularly for newer program directors.  I would bring the perspective of someone relatively early in the role and a willingness to engage with the practical (and sometimes messy) questions that come with running a residency program.

Bio

Maggie Coppinger, MD, is the Program Director at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) and an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.  Prior to becoming PD, she served as Associate Program Director and Clinical Director of OB Anesthesia at MGUH.  She has also served as an examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology Standardized Oral Examination since 2021.  She has been a SAAAPM member for 7 years and is serving as a moderator for the "Everything You Wanted to Know" session at this year's annual meeting.

Shannon Grap, MD, FASA

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Why are you interested in running?

I am excited to run for the position of Councilor on the AACPD Council.  My career in anesthesiology has been rooted in education, and I am passionate about serving our specialty and community.  Since 2022, I have been the Core Residency Program Director at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.   Prior to becoming Program Director, I was the Associate Residency Program Director for five years and have been heavily involved in graduate medical education.  I have attended the SAAAPM and AACPD meetings since my early time as an APD, and the AACPD has been an invaluable community and resource.  I personally enjoy the partnerships, interactions, and support the AACPD provides with program leadership across the country.  I also serve as an Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology, which offers the ability to collaborate with other stakeholders in education and promote the development of residency education for the future of our specialty.  

If elected as Councilor, I plan to enthusiastically serve the AACPD with my expertise in both graduate and undergraduate medical education.  Prior to becoming Program Director, I began my career in medical education as the Director of Medical Student Education in my department and the Director of Curriculum Integration for the Penn State College of Medicine.  These roles provided in-depth experiences and understanding of the relationship of undergraduate medical education to residency training, and I have a strong interest in the transition to residency, including the foundational and formative years.  I also continue to be involved in mentorship, and enjoy advising students, residents and junior faculty.  Most recently I have been selected by my institution and DIO to serve on our institutional Graduate Medical Education Leadership Committee, which serves to advise and support the GME Committee and our training programs.  I hope to be elected as an AACPD Councilor and will apply my enthusiasm for education with strong teamwork in order to generate innovation and support of educational programs to further evolve residency training for the future of anesthesiology!

Bio

I am an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center & Children’s Hospital in Hershey, PA.  I completed my residency training in anesthesiology at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in 2011 and fellowship training in pediatric anesthesiology at the Children’s National Medical Center in 2012.  I have extensive experience in both graduate and undergraduate medical education and earned the Graduate Certificate in Adult Education with Health & Medical Sciences through the Penn State University.  I have also been recognized by my department and institution for excellence in teaching and mentoring.

Early in my career, I served for five years as the Director of Curriculum Integration and member of the Curriculum Leadership Team, under the direction of the Associate Dean of Medical Education at the Penn State College of Medicine.  Additionally, I was the Director of Medical Student Education in the Department of Anesthesiology for 9 years, prior to transitioning to Residency Program Director.  In 2022, I transitioned to the role of Program Director, after serving as the Associate Residency Program Director for five years.  I have a special interest in the transition of learners from Undergraduate Medial Education to Graduate Medical Education, as well as the integration of learning during residency training, including that of the clinical base and clinical anesthesiology rotations.  I am a well-rounded and enthusiastic educator, and I also enjoy activities with my family, including my husband and two school age children.  For the past several years, I have been involved in coaching youth sports, including field hockey and softball, and I enjoy staying active with my children!

Michael C. Hawryschuk. MD, FASA

University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Why are you interested in running?

I am seeking the opportunity to serve as an AACPD Councilor because I have tremendous respect for the engaged educators and program leaders within this organization, from whom I continue to learn and grow as a Program Director. I have attended SAAAPM for many years, first as an Associate Program Director and, since 2021, as a Program Director. I value the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from colleagues across the country, and I would welcome the opportunity to contribute more meaningfully to an organization that has been important to my own development as an educator and program leader.

As a Councilor, I hope to use the experience I gained as CEAM Chair for the Ohio Society of Anesthesiologists to help design and develop high-value SAAAPM educational meetings that address the evolving needs of residency programs and their leaders. A major focus of my career as a Program Director has been innovation in didactic education and residency curriculum, with the goal of developing graduates who demonstrate the unique value of the physician anesthesiologist. I hope to work with fellow Program Directors to identify innovative ways to maintain the academic rigor of our training programs while more intentionally developing residents as consultants, leaders, and future leaders of the anesthesia care team.

Bio

Michael Hawryschuk, MD, serves as Residency Program Director for the University of Cincinnati Anesthesiology Residency Program and has been actively involved in anesthesiology education and organized medicine at the local, state, and national levels. Nationally, he serves on the American Society of Anesthesiologists Program Directors Advisory Group and the ASA Committee on Residents and Medical Students, contributing to discussions surrounding resident education and the evolving needs of anesthesiology trainees.

Dr. Hawryschuk has also served in each of the principal executive leadership roles of the Ohio Society of Anesthesiologists, including Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, and President, providing him with significant experience in professional society leadership, governance, and collaboration. He has additionally served as CME Chair and Program Director for multiple OSA annual educational meetings, working with anesthesiologists across Ohio to develop educational programming for learners and practicing anesthesiologists at all stages of their careers. His professional interests include graduate medical education, educational innovation, resident professional development, and leadership within anesthesiology.

Benjamin T. Houseman, MD, PhD, FASA

Memorial Healthcare System

Why are you interested in running?

Since 2016, nearly sixty new community-based residency programs have received ACGME accreditation, creating a unique set of opportunities for leaders in anesthesiology education. My residency program is among this group, and I am seeking a position on the AACPD council to represent the interests this diverse cohort. My program started in 2019 within one of the nation's largest public healthcare systems with little scholarly activity or infrastructure to support nonclinical education. Our faculty were outstanding clinicians with expectations for productivity but no structures to support resident education or scholarly activity. With the support of many of you in SAAAPM and SEA, my team created structures for resident education at four diverse training sites and developed a robust core faculty through recruitment and development. We have now graduated three classes, matched four residents into prestigious fellowships, retained all but one program graduate in Florida, and hired three of my alumni as program faculty. If elected to serve, my experience navigating challenges such as these, which are unique to new and established community-based programs, would complement those of university-based leaders.

In addition to my work as founding program director, I have represented community-based programs as a member of the ASA Program Director Advisory Group as well as the Society for Education in Anesthesia and SAAPM, where I have been fortunate to help lead new program director workshops and community-based program breakout sessions. More recently, I have participated in Delphi workgroups exploring changes in anesthesiology residency case log requirements and entrustable professional activities. I complement these efforts as the National Director of Anesthesiology Clinician Education for Envision Healthcare, where I develop enterprise-wide risk reduction training for frontline private practice clinicians in partnership with senior leaders in quality, risk and safety. If given the opportunity to serve on the council, I would work to strengthen AACPD's mentorship infrastructure for community-based programs and build more deliberate bridges between community and university programs.  Examples of this work might include development of a community program consortium for scholarly collaboration and the development of tools to identify high impact community-university or community-community partnerships. My unique background positions me to contribute meaningfully to the council’s work and help our community benefit from the growing number of programs that sit outside the traditional university model.

Bio

Dr. Houseman is the founding Program Director of Memorial Healthcare System Anesthesiology Residency, a community-based training program in southeast Florida. Since his program began in 2019, he has been a member of the ASA Program Director Advisory Group, SAAAPM, and the Society for Education in Anesthesia, where he participates on the research and IMPACT committees. Dr. Houseman also serves as National Director of Anesthesiology Clinical Education at Envision Healthcare, and he has completed training as a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation.

Dr. Houseman completed an MD PhD degree in chemical biology at the University of Chicago and residency in anesthesiology and perioperative care at the University of California – San Francisco, where he ran a NIH K08 and FAER-funded research program. Prior to his current role as program director, he served as chief of anesthesia at two Kaiser Permanente hospitals, where he moved clinician teams into a new hospital, developed educational programs for staff, doubled the size of the department from 40 to 80 clinicians, and created physician-led care teams in thoracic anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia and critical care.

Maurice "Frankie" Joyce, MD, EdM, FASA

Tufts Medical Center

Why are you interested in running?

It is with enthusiasm that I seek your consideration to serve as a member of the AACPD council. The AACPD and SAAAPM have been invaluable resources for me in my journey in program and educational leadership. More specifically, I have found the annual meeting to be the most valuable and productive meeting that I attend each year in terms of collaboration, idea generation, and professional development. Along with the other members of the education leadership team at Tufts, I have attended the meeting annually since 2021. I am excited to help in revamping the popular ""Everything You Wanted to Know"" session for the upcoming 2026 SAAAPM meeting and look forward to what I know will be fruitful discussion and debate.

Given the immense amount that the SAAAPM and AACPD has contributed to my professional development, it would be an incredible privilege and opportunity to give back to the organization and assist in moving both the organization and anesthesiology education forward through this role on the council. I greatly appreciate your consideration of my candidacy.

Bio

I am an Anesthesiologist and Intensivist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston and serve in the role of Vice Chair for Education and Residency Program Director (since March 2021). In addition to my role as Vice Chair for Education and PD, I am also an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Tufts University School of Medicine and direct the medical student clerkships in addition to serving as the Co-Chair of the medical school curriculum committee.

I have advanced training in education and bring this perspective in the design of educational programming for the adult learner audience, and more importantly in encouraging the use of evidence-based best practices within the content of this programming. Outside of the SAAAPM, I have the honor of serving as a board examiner and question author for the ABA, serving on the Education Advisory Board of the AUA, and serving on the Program Directors Advisory Group of the ASA; thus I can bring the perspectives of these peer organizations and hopefully continue to build upon collaboration with these groups.

Bryan Mahoney, MD, FASA

Mount Sinai West

Why are you interested in running?

Thank you for considering my application to continue serving as an AACPD Council member. For those of you who may not know me, I currently serve as the Residency Program Director at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West in New York City. After completing medical school and residency at Mount Sinai Hospital and fellowship training in obstetric anesthesiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, I joined the faculty at The Ohio State University before returning to Mount Sinai as Program Director. Growing up in a working-class military family as the first physician in my extended family shaped my appreciation for mentorship, service, and creating opportunities for others—values that continue to guide my work in graduate medical education.

Serving on the AACPD Council over the past two years has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my professional career. It has been a privilege to represent our membership while working alongside an outstanding group of colleagues to advance initiatives that support anesthesiology program directors nationwide.

Bio

During my current term, I have been actively involved in several Council initiatives:

New Program Director Workshop (2025 & 2026): I helped develop, organize, and lead this workshop held before the SEA Fall Meeting. As the number of anesthesiology residency programs continues to grow, this program provides new program directors with practical tools, mentorship, and resources to be successful while introducing them to the AACPD community and encouraging long-term engagement.

""Everything You Wanted to Know"" Annual Session: I have led this flagship session for both the 2025 and upcoming 2026 AACPD meetings. This year, I assembled a task force of experienced AACPD members to redesign the session, incorporating audience-response technology and more interactive discussion to better capture the perspectives and expertise of our membership.

ERAS and Program Signaling Breakout Session: I have co-moderated this session at both the 2025 and 2026 AACPD meetings, facilitating thoughtful discussion and collecting member feedback to help inform ongoing improvements to the residency application and selection process.

Beyond the AACPD, I serve on the Boards of the Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA) and the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA), hold leadership roles within the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP), and serve as a Full Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. These experiences allow me to bring ideas and perspectives from across our specialty back to the AACPD while strengthening collaboration between organizations that share our commitment to graduate medical education.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of these roles has been the opportunity to mentor new and aspiring educational leaders. Whether through Council activities, national meetings, or the SEA-sponsored PD’s at SEA podcast, I have enjoyed connecting with colleagues, sharing ideas, and helping build the next generation of program directors.

It would be an honor to continue serving the AACPD Council. I remain committed to advancing our mission, supporting our members, and ensuring that the AACPD continues to be an indispensable resource for anesthesiology program directors across the country.

Travis Markham, MD, FASA

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Why are you interested in running?

I am interested in running for the Councilor position to actively work with the Council and elected Officers to plan an exciting, informative, and engaging annual meeting that is a place to exchange ideas and mentorship for all members.  I believe that each of our residency programs have unique needs, challenges, and successes that we can share with each other as a society to promote all of our growth. As a residency program who has returned to in person interviews, I am eager to share our experience including trials and successes.  I do not believe there is a singular approach that is applicable to every program and I believe the collaborative environment at the annual meeting has been personally beneficial and I look to continue that in the future.  

Further, I believe that mentorship is an invaluable tool for each of us in academic medicine.  I would like to work towards connecting senior and junior residency program directors from residency programs of similar sizes to effectively aid transitions into the role of residency program director.  I would like to continue work related to signals and identifying data/trends to determine if we are at an optimal situation or if there are changes to be done to better align medical student applicants and residency program interests. I think the work that the society has done has been excellent, and I am eager to join this group and learn from each of you. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to working with you in the future.

Bio

My name is Travis Markham, and I am interested in applying for the AACPD Councilor position.  I completed my undergraduate training at Texas A&M University with degrees in Biology and Genetics.  I completed medical school at the University of Texas at Houston where I was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha as a MS-4.  I completed my residency and Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Following graduation, I remained at the same institution and have been for my entire academic medicine career.

Initially, I began my involvement as Director of Medical Student Education and served in this capacity from 2017-2023.  At the same time, I served as Assistant Residency Program Director from 2017-2020 with my primary focus being the Director of Intern Training and Residency Recruitment Director.  In January 2020, I became the Residency Program Director and currently have the pleasure of serving in this role.  At the state level, I am the Co-Chair of our Committee on Medical Student and Residents with direct responsibilities including planning of virtual summer sessions geared towards residency applicants.  Further, I am responsible for organizing our annual meeting track related to residents and medical students including lecture planning, research poster session, job fair, and financial talks for both groups.  On a national level, I am Vice Chair of the ASA Committee on Medical Students and Residents and oversee the Resident and Medical Student Governing Councils. I feel each of these roles has helped prepare me for this position and I look forward to working with the Council and other elected Officers to continue the work of this Society.

Junaid Nizamuddin, MD

University of Chicago

Why are you interested in running?

I would love to serve our specialty and our community of program leaders by serving in the role of AACPD council member. I’ve been a Program Director at the University of Chicago for 8 years and have led the residency through a multitude of challenges, overhauling the clinical and educational experience at a time of immense change. I’ve had to continually interface with the ACGME and the ABA on behalf of the residency, most recently securing a complement increase to grow our program. I have been active at the ABA as a question writer, exam committee member, and an Applied examiner, and have also been active in other national organizations, including the ASA, SOCCA and IARS and serve on the editorial board of A&A. 

If selected to serve on the Council, I am excited by the prospect of being able to give input and guidance to other bodies that are formulating change for residency training on a national level. It is a time of immense change: the AACPD took the lead on changing the landscape of the residency application process and will be tasked with giving input on other major issues on the horizon, including time-variable competency-based training. Being able to add my voice to those conversations is one of my biggest motivations in seeking to join the Council. Lastly, I would relish the opportunity to be surrounded by exceptional educators and learn from the rich exchange of ideas, and to be able to mentor and advise new program directors as they set out on their own journeys.

Bio

Junaid Nizamuddin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Chicago and has been program director of the anesthesiology residency since August 2018. He attended medical school at Johns Hopkins before completing his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and his fellowship in critical care medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. During his time as program director, Dr. Nizamuddin has overseen the growth of his program from 62 to 76 residents and has directed an overhaul of the residency curriculum and formation of wellness and support programs. He serves as an Associate Editor for Anesthesia & Analgesia, as an ABA Applied Examiner, and was recently named to the ABA Critical Care Examination Committee and the newly-formed ABA Resident Reach Committee.

Sydney Nykiel-Bailey, DO, MHPE

Washington University in St. Louis

Why are you interested in running?

Serving as a Residency Program Director has reinforced my belief that our greatest impact extends beyond our own institutions. Residency leadership is truly a team sport. Successful programs are built not by a single leader, but by highly functioning teams of program directors, assistant and associate program directors, program coordinators, administrators, chief residents, and faculty who bring complementary expertise to a shared mission. When these teams communicate effectively, trust one another, embrace diverse perspectives, and align around common goals, they create learning environments where residents thrive. I am seeking election to the SAAAPM Council because I believe we have an opportunity to intentionally develop these leadership teams and, in doing so, strengthen residency education nationwide.

If elected, I would advocate for dedicated programming at the Annual Meeting focused on building high-performing residency leadership teams. Rather than emphasizing the role of the program director alone, I envision workshops that bring entire leadership teams together to develop practical skills in strategic planning, change management, conflict resolution, delegation, and effective communication. When these elements are intentionally cultivated, teams become more innovative, more resilient, and more effective at navigating the constant challenges of graduate medical education. High-performing teams do not happen by chance—they are built through intention. I would be honored to help bring this vision to the Council and work alongside colleagues to elevate residency leadership across our specialty.

Bio

Sydney M. Nykiel-Bailey, DO, MHPE, is Professor of Anesthesiology and Residency Program Director at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She is a pediatric anesthesiologist with expertise in pediatric difficult airway management and is the founder and director of the Pediatric Difficult Airway Service at St. Louis Children's Hospital, where she has led multidisciplinary initiatives that have advanced the care of children with complex airways. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kansas City University, completed her anesthesiology residency and pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Washington University, and holds both a Harvard Medical School Advanced Teaching Certificate and a Master of Health Professions Education from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

Dr. Nykiel-Bailey is a clinician-educator and leader in graduate medical education. She serves as an examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology Applied Examination and as an Assistant Editor for ASA OnDemand. Her scholarship focuses on pediatric airway management, physician coaching, mentorship, and competency-based medical education. She is passionate about developing future physician leaders and advancing innovative, collaborative approaches that strengthen residency education.

Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, MD, MBA

Massachusetts General Hospital

Why are you interested in running?

I have been a core program director since 2017, and much of what works best in our program began as an idea borrowed from a colleague at another program. That exchange is what makes this community valuable, and having benefited from it so much, I would like to help strengthen it. My research background is in medical education and clinician well-being, and I have spent my career trying to turn those ideas into practical tools that other programs can use.

If elected, I would focus on three things. First, making it easier for programs to share what they have already built, including curricula, assessment systems, and policies, so that no program director has to start from scratch. Second, supporting the sustainability of the program director role itself, including protected time, turnover, and well-being. Third, annual meeting programming on what is coming at all of us, particularly assessment innovation and the thoughtful use of AI in training. I hold these ideas loosely and would want to shape them with the Council and the membership.

Bio

Dan Saddawi-Konefka, MD, MBA is an anesthesiologist and intensivist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School, and Program Director of the MGH Anesthesiology Residency, a role he has held since 2017. During that time, the program transitioned to a four-year categorical structure with a longitudinal curriculum and a weekly full-day didactic program. He received the 2024 Mass General Brigham Program Director Award.

His research, grounded in cognitive psychology and educational theory, focuses on intrinsic motivation, self-regulation, feedback, and clinician well-being, including JAMA publications on mental health questions in medical licensing that supported reform in multiple states. He co-founded The Emotional PPE Project, a nonprofit that has connected thousands of healthcare workers to free, confidential mental health care. His national service includes co-chairing the ASA Working Group on Physician Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, serving as an Associate Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology, and serving as Assistant Editor for medical education at Anesthesia & Analgesia. He holds an MD and MBA from the University of Michigan.

Marc Sherwin, MD

Yale New Haven Health

Why are you interested in running?

Serving as the Residency Program Director at Yale New Haven Health Anesthesiology after more than five years as Associate Program Director at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has reinforced my appreciation for the challenges and opportunities facing anesthesiology residency leadership. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about improving medical education through innovation, collaboration, and the practical sharing of ideas across institutions. I have been fortunate to work closely with residents, faculty, and national organizations on initiatives focused on curriculum development, faculty development, simulation, assessment, wellness, educational technology, and program administration. These experiences have shown me that our greatest advances occur when program directors openly share successful strategies and learn from one another.

I am running for the AACPD Council because I want to help strengthen that collaborative community while ensuring the Council continues to provide meaningful resources for both new and experienced program directors. During my time on Council, I would like to expand opportunities for program directors to exchange practical educational innovations, particularly those involving emerging technologies and artificial intelligence that can improve education without increasing administrative burden. As Chair Designee of the Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA) Advancement of Technology in Education Committee and Co-Chair of the 2026 SEA Fall Meeting, I have worked to build communities around educational innovation, including developing a dedicated program director panel at this year's meeting highlighting educational initiatives utilizing technology. I also am serving on the ""Everything You Wanted to Know"" Task Force to improve the experience at the SAAAPM meeting, reflecting my commitment to creating meaningful communication between programs and sharing of ideas to better all of our residencies. If elected, I hope to help develop additional faculty development opportunities, facilitate mentorship among program directors, and promote the dissemination of successful educational initiatives.

Bio

I am the Program Director for the Yale New Haven Health Anesthesiology Residency Program and previously served for more than five years as Associate Program Director at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital Anesthesiology Residency Program. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about training the next generation of anesthesiologists through curriculum innovation, faculty development, mentorship, simulation, and educational scholarship. My work has been recognized with the 2025 ASA/SEA Distinguished Educator in Anesthesiology Award, and I have had the privilege of presenting workshops and invited lectures nationally and internationally on residency education, educational technology, artificial intelligence, simulation, and point-of-care ultrasound.

I believe some of the best ideas in medical education come from sharing experiences across institutions. That philosophy has led me to become actively involved in the SEA and ASA, where I currently serve as Chair Designee of the Advancement of Technology in Education SEA Committee, Co-Chair of the 2026 SEA Fall Meeting, ASA Mentor, and a member of both the SEA Precision Education Task Force and the SAAAPM ""Everything You Wanted to Know"" Task Force. Whether through educational scholarship, national workshops, or collaboration with fellow program directors, I enjoy developing practical solutions that improve residency training, learning from our colleagues, and preparing future anesthesiologists to succeed in the evolving healthcare environment.

Emily Stebbins, MD

University of Vermont Medical Center

Why are you interested in running?

It is with great enthusiasm that I seek consideration for a Councilor position on the AACPD leadership team. I am currently completing a one-year term in a vacant Councilor position and have greatly valued the opportunity to contribute to the planning of the Fall 2026 meeting. The annual AACPD meetings and networking opportunities have been instrumental to my growth as a program director, and I am grateful for the opportunity to represent smaller programs in my current role as a Councilor. In addition to my service on the Council, I was selected in 2024 to speak on resident unionization during a large-group session.

I am deeply passionate about resident education and leadership development. I would be honored to continue serving in a leadership capacity within the AACPD core team. AACPD has made significant contributions to our community, particularly through its work in developing recommendations and advancing important conversations related to residency education. I am eager to continue contributing to these efforts and to help shape the future of graduate medical education in anesthesiology. I would especially value the opportunity to ensure that the perspectives and unique needs of smaller programs continue to be represented as our specialty evolves.

Bio

Dr. Emily Stebbins is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics at The University of Vermont Medical Center and University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. She practices Pediatric Anesthesiology and has served as the Anesthesiology Residency Program Director for the past nine years.  She is passionate about resident education, recruitment, and trainee advocacy.  She is actively involved in the Society for Education (SEA) in Anesthesiology, where she currently serves as Chair of the Graduate Medical Education Committee.  She also co-led the SEA chief leadership program in 2023 and 2024.  In SAAAPM, she has served as an AACPD Councilor for the past year and is grateful to represent smaller programs at the national level.  Clinically, she shares her expertise in pediatric anesthesiology and infant spinals. In addition, she brings extensive experience in graduate medical education, with particular interests in resident education, resident unionization, provider wellness, and debriefing.

Santhanam Suresh, MD, MBA, FASA, FAAP, FASRA

Loyola University Medical Center

Why are you interested in running?

As a core program director, I am very interested in ensuring anesthesiology training meets the highest standards and provide the best opportunities for our trainees in the house of medicine.

Bio

Former chair of a major children's hospital and then Senior Vice President of the institution.  Served as President of the American Board of Anesthesiology and Chair of Board of Trustees of the IARS.  Served on ACGME Review Committee for Anesthesiology.  Extensive work on education and clinical research in regional anesthesia in children. Currently serve as Executive Vice Chair and Core Residency Program Director. Professor of Anesthesiology & Pediatrics, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL. I have a joint appointment at Boston Children's Hospital as Senior Associate In Pain Medicine.

Allison Thoeny, MD

University of Arizona - Tucson

Why are you interested in running?

Now approaching my fifth year as program director (and three years as APD prior) I have found my membership and engagement in the AACPD to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Program leadership can be fraught with immense organizational, interpersonal and professional challenges, yet at the same time provide incredible inspiration, joy and fulfillment. It has been invaluable to share in these experiences with all of you at meetings, discussion groups and within mentorship relationships. As a Council Member I would be committed to serving the charge of the AACPD from the SAAAPM, and also to the individuals who comprise it's membership. The beauty of this group comes from our diversity of experience and thought yet all converging on one common motivation -- to educate, lead and inspire the future of our field. I would be honored to serve on the Council and have further hand in creating high quality educational programming at the Annual SAAAPM Meeting, to help inform and develop consensus on operational guidelines, improve the cohesion of policies between the ACGME and ABA, and tackle the challenges as a group that meet highest demand in this dynamic educational and political climate.

Bio

Dr. Allison Thoeny is a Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Arizona Tucson and has over nine years of expertise in pediatric anesthesiology, where she practices at Banner University Medical Center Tucson. She enjoys the challenge of caring for pediatric patients in high acuity surgical settings including congenital cardiac and fetal surgery. Dr. Thoeny has significant experience mentoring and training residents and students to pursue careers in the high-need area of pediatric anesthesia. She currently serves as the Program Director for the Anesthesiology Residency, the Specialty Advisor for Anesthesiology for the College of Medicine- Tucson and is active on a national level as the Chair of Educational Programming for SPA’s Engagement of Residents and Students (SPAERS). Dr. Thoeny's scholarly work and research interests largely center on medical education, physician wellbeing, and women in anesthesia. She also enjoys creative writing. Outside of work she loves nothing more than spending time with her husband and their three crazy young boys!