Women in Anesthesiology Open House
Written by Theodora Wingert, MD, Christine Myo Bui, MD, and Lucelva Mendez | December 2, 2025
The UCLA Women in Anesthesiology Open House, on November 20, 2025, brought together trainees, faculty, and alumni for a thoughtful discussion on career development, work-life integration, and the importance of strong, relatable role models. Organized and hosted by Associate Program Director Christine Myo Bui, MD, and the UCLA Anesthesiology Education Office, the event provided a warm, energizing forum to learn what life is like for women anesthesiologists at UCLA during training and throughout their faculty careers.
Chief Resident Rebecca Toohey, MD (Class of 2026), who will begin a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital next year, expertly led a Q&A-style session on navigating work-life balance, clinical demands, and career progression. Attendees from a wide range of backgrounds shared personal reflections and experiences. Alumna Edna Ma, MD (Class of 2007), spoke candidly about building a fulfilling anesthesiology career while maintaining personal well-being, and former resident-turned-attending Lauren Vajda, MD, MS (Class of 2023), offered helpful insight into her experiences navigating pregnancy and lactation as both a trainee and faculty member.
The conversation also featured powerful anecdotes that highlighted the depth of UCLA’s supportive community. Theodora Wingert, MD (Class of 2016), reflected on how Judi Turner, MD, PhD, and Wendy Ren, MD (both Class of 2006), were instrumental in her decision to stay at UCLA for fellowship. She credited them both for believing in her early research and informatics pursuits. Ashley Oliver, MD, MA (Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Class of 2023) shared a poignant example of colleagues stepping in so she could attend her son’s important mid-day school event, and described how she makes demanding clinical schedules—including overnight cases—work with family life.
Marisa Hernandez-Morgan, MD, MA, MPP (Dual Critical Care and Cardiothoracic Fellowship Class of 2019), now a trailblazer in critical care medicine and Fellowship Program Director, spoke about the importance of strong allyship in paving paths for women in critical care. Brie Bulgarelli, MD (Class of 2027), who is pursuing critical care fellowship under Dr. Hernandez-Morgan’s leadership, discussed the value of UCLA’s fertility benefits with Jennifer Kim, MD, MS (Class of 2027). Irene Wu, MD (Class of 2010), described the lasting friendships formed in residency and the deep support those relationships have provided years later. Dr. Kim also shared how having Jane Moon, MD, as her one-to-one mentor empowered her to find her voice early in her residency and enabled her to seek guidance on sensitive topics without trepidation.
Wendy Ren, MD, added wise and humorous perspective in reminding the group that while they love anesthesiology, “there’s no such thing as balance.” Rather, one must think about one’s careers as having chapters, with shifting trade-offs across different seasons of life, in which excelling in one area may require reduction in investment in another.
A central theme of the evening was deep appreciation for UCLA’s culture of support and the presence of strong women in leadership. Many participants noted that they chose to remain at UCLA for training and as faculty because of the inspiring, inclusive environment these leaders foster. Overall, the event highlighted the power of community, mentorship, and visibility in advancing gender equity and uplifting a diverse new generation of anesthesiologists.