Leadership

Officers

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President: Michal Gajewski, DO, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Michal Gajewski, DO, completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Art in Art History Criticism from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY. He then achieved a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine followed by Residency in Anesthesiology at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York, NY. Lastly, Dr. Gajewski completed a Fellowship in Critical Care at Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA.

Dr. Gajewski is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology in Anesthesiology and Critical Care, as well as the National Board of Echocardiography. He is also an active member of the Patient Safety Advocates of New Mexico. He practices in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he works as an anesthesiologist and an intensivist. Dr. Gajewski has published many peer reviewed publications and has completed clinical research. He is fluent in Polish and is knowledgeable in Spanish. When he is not working he enjoys spending as much time as possible travelling, learning about other cultures, and being surrounded by nature. 



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President-Elect: Natalie Bruno, MD, Santa Fe, New Mexico



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Secretary-Treasurer: Sally Vender, M.D., Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Vender is a congenital cardiac anesthesiologist at Presbyterian hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and completed her anesthesiology residency and pediatric anesthesia fellowship there, too. After graduating, she was privileged to serve as an attending physician where she loved working with residents and fellows. She was afforded the opportunity to obtain advanced clinical training in congenital cardiac anesthesia at Stanford.

When not sending kids to outer space with flavored astronaut masks, she enjoys spending time with her own kiddos (and sometimes wishes she could anesthetize them) and attempting to ride mountain bikes with her husband. She is grateful to able to practice medicine in New Mexico.



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ASA District Director New Mexico: Ruth Burstrom, M.D., Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Burstrom graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed her anesthesiology residency at Hartford Hospital followed by a two year geriatric anesthesia fellowship at the University of Washington.  Moving to work at the Albuquerque VA hospital in 1995 where she practiced until transferring to work at UNMH.  She has been on multiple local & departmental medical committees as well as serving on the ASA’s Geriatric Committee, Geriatric Track Education sub-committee, Credentialing Committee as well as Reference Committees.  She has also been a long serving delegate and Alternate Director from New Mexico, as well as being New Mexico’s ASA PAC representative. She remains active with lectures to residents including trauma, geriatrics and GU surgeries.  When she’s not keeping up with ASA and political issues you might find her out gardening or birding.



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ASA Alternate Director: Radhika Grandhe, M.D., Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Radhika Grandhe completed her Anesthesiology Residency and Pain Management Fellowship from Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. After graduating from fellowship, she moved from Midwest to Albuquerque and joined as faculty at the University of New Mexico. She fell in love with the sunny weather, inclusive culture and the friendly people of New Mexico. 
She is heavily involved with the education of medical students, residents and fellows. She currently leads the Pain Management Fellowship program at University of New Mexico. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, gardening and playing chess. 


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ASA Delegate: Sally Fortner, M.D., Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Fortner is a professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at the University of New Mexico. During her fellowship in Cardiac Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University she began to understand the critical importance of effective communication between team members in high acuity situations. She has worked on systems-based communication issues as an academic anesthesiologist and she has experience in simulation and advanced debriefing. In addition she is highly experienced as both a performance and personal development coach.  Her passion for life-long education has led her to innovate and create meaningful educational endeavors for physicians and other practitioners at all stages of their careers. She is the director of MOCA Simulation at UNM. Dr. Fortner is a fellow of the Academy of Communication in Healthcare and is the first anesthesiologist to be admitted to the faculty of the organization.


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ASA Delegate: Jeffrey Trujillo, M.D., Albuquerque, New Mexico

Jeffrey Trujillo, MD completed residency at the University of Mexico (UNM) and is currently employed with Anesthesia Associates of New Mexico. He is a native New Mexican, attending UNM for his undergraduate and medical education. He began his residency training at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He later transferred back to his home program at UNM to complete his residency training in Anesthesiology.

Outside of working in Anesthesiology, he enjoys spending time in the outdoors, traveling, and playing golf. Dr. Trujillo is grateful to be able to practice Anesthesiology in his native state and looks forward to beginning of this rewarding career.



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Alternate Delegate: Austin Oetken, M.D., Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Oetken received a B.S. degree (2009) from Baylor University. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree (2013) from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Following his MD degree he completed a 2-year anesthesiology residency at the Brooke Army Medical Center, as well as a 2-year anesthesiology residency at the University of New Mexico Hospital.



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Alternate Delegate: Terra Wubbenhorst, M.D., Albuquerque, New Mexico

Terra Wubbenhorst, MD is currently an assistant professor of Anesthesiology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She is originally from Houston, TX and did her anesthesia residency and critical care fellowship at UT-Houston. She moved to Albuquerque and joined UNM after working in private practice for a few years. Terra has been involved in medical student/resident education and quality improvement. In her free time, she enjoys working out, cooking, reading, the wonderful Albuquerque weather, and spending time with family.