We are happy to share news about changes to the leadership of our department and our system-wide Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Division, which encompasses UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Passavant, and UPMC Altoona. In preparation to “pass the torch” of leadership, Kathirvel Subramaniam, MD, MPH, FASE, has been serving as Co-Chief of the division over the past months, sharing the role with Erin A. Sullivan, MD, D.ABA, FASA. Effective September 1, 2022, Dr. Sullivan assumed the new leadership role of our department’s Associate Vice Chair for Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA) Clinical Services. She is retaining her current role as Assistant Site Chief of UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. Also on September 1, 2022, Dr. Subramaniam officially transitioned into the role of Chief of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology.
In Dr. Subramaniam’s new role as Chief, he will oversee administration of the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology service for our department. Key duties will include ensuring compliance with all UPMC and government regulations; assuming overall responsibility for coordination of clinical patient care; developing and maintaining a cross coverage plan to maximize resources and efficiency while providing appropriate site coverage; assuring regular review and evaluation of the quality and appropriateness of patient care; developing programs and services to serve patients’ anesthetic needs; helping to raise awareness of the service both within and outside UPMC; collaborating with other services to ensure appropriate patient referrals; developing effective care pathways; and contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge the field. With expert guidance from Dr. Sullivan throughout the previous months and his many impressive accomplishments in the specialty, Dr. Subramaniam is well-positioned to smoothly transition into the leadership role.
We express our most sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Erin Sullivan for her exemplary leadership of our Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Division over the past 15 years. In her new role as Associate Vice Chair for NORA Clinical Services, Dr. Sullivan will standardize clinical operations and develop policies and procedures for our non-OR anesthesia sites, as well as develop educational tools for faculty and residents/fellows who work at those sites.
Congratulations to both Dr. Subramaniam and Dr. Sullivan for their appointments to their new roles!