DAPM Inaugural Gratitude & Good Outcomes Grand Rounds

We came together for UCLA Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine’s first-ever Gratitude and Good Outcome Grand Rounds to reflect on moments of outstanding teamwork, remarkable communication, and shared learning. These special Grand Rounds complement the Morbidity and Mortality Grand Rounds by highlighting cases where exceptional teamwork, planning, clinical acumen, innovation, and judgment lead to outstanding outcomes. The inaugural event took place during Grand Rounds on June 4, 2025.

Throughout the hour, we heard stories centered around compassionate care, research, integrity, trust, and relationship-building. Neil Shaw, MD, K. Elliott Higgins III, MD, and Jose Hernandez Carcamo, ACSM-EP, MS, organized the event and served as Session Presenters. When asked about how the Gratitude and Good Outcomes Grand Rounds added to the Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference series, Dr. Christine Nguyen-Buckley shared that they highlighted exceptional care and achievement by DAPM colleagues. She added, "While we usually spend M&M analyzing areas for improvement, it was useful to understand themes of extraordinary patient care including pre-procedure planning, interdisciplinary teamwork, communication, optimism, and perseverance."

The following department members presented cases and division highlights:

Case Presenters
Benjamin Chu, MD, and Julia Klein, MD | Case: TKA with LVAD

Ihab Ayad, MD, & Shaun Pak, MD | Case: Pediatric goiter requiring ECMO

Kathryn Kim, MD, Sumit Singh, MD, and David Miller, MD | Case: Breast surgery prior to OHT requiring IABP

Highlights & Closing
Thomas Vondriska, PhD – Research Accomplishments 

Stephanie Fisher, MA – Administrative Accomplishments 

Maxime Cannesson, MD, PhD – Closing Remarks

You can also watch a highlight reel of the event on our @ucla_anesthesiology Instagram: Watch Here. The DAPM Well-Being Program is excited to host the second annual Gratitude and Good Outcomes (G&G) Grand Rounds on June 3, 2026. If you have a success to share, please submit it for consideration. Submissions may be accepted through February 2026. Submit Here. We look forward to celebrating the inspiring work happening every day at UCLA.