Episode 157: AI from A to Z (Part One)

Vesela Kovacheva, MD, PhD

Vesela Kovacheva, MD, PhD, is a physician-scientist, attending anesthesiologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the Harvard Medical School with a strong passion for clinical innovation and translational research. Dr. Kovacheva is a Faculty Affiliate at the Harvard Data Science Initiative and has a vision for transforming the practice of obstetric anesthesiology by using the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and populational genetics.  She is interested in creating artificial intelligence (AI)-powered algorithms for risk stratification, personalized management of adverse patient outcomes, and closed-loop infusion control. Her work also focuses on investigating the genetic factors associated with major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, like postpartum hemorrhage.  Her work has been published in high-impact journals such as Nature, FASEB, Hypertension, IEEE, and Anesthesiology

Vikas N. O'Reilly-Shah, MD, PhD, FASA

O'Reilly-Shah, MD, PhD, FASA, is professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. He is also an attending pediatric anesthesiologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where he serves as Associate Chief of Perioperative Informatics and Outcomes. Dr. O'Reilly-Shah is passionate about the intersection of healthcare, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation, with a focus on using data science and informatics to improve perioperative care, patient safety, and health system efficiency.

Dr. O'Reilly-Shah earned dual undergraduate degrees in philosophy and biochemistry from Michigan State University before completing his MD and PhD in biochemistry at Vanderbilt University. He trained in anesthesiology at Stanford University, where he also completed a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology. His work in clinical informatics, machine learning, and global health has been widely published in leading medical journals, and he has held leadership roles in major anesthesiology and informatics organizations.

Kent Berg, MD, MBA

Kent Berg, MD, MBA, is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Vice Chair of Information Systems and Technology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH) in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Berg is passionate about adult cardiothoracic care, especially aortic surgery and heart/lung transplants. He is also Board Certified in Clinical Informatics, and he is extremely excited about how Artificial Intelligence may change the interface between computers and patients in the very near future, especially with Remote Patient Monitors in the hospital and at home.

Dr. Berg received his undergraduate biology degree from Amherst College, in Amherst, MA. He spent 1 year working for The Healthcare Advisory Board in Washington, DC, and then he completed his MD and MBA degrees at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. He attended the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, FL, for his Anesthesia Residency and his Adult CardioThoracic Anesthesia Fellowship. After 7 years working at UF, he moved to Philadelphia to join TJUH. He loves soccer and other sports, cooking and traveling, but he is most happy spending time with his lovely wife, Neha, and their two energetic boys, Naveen (“Nah-veen”) and Niyam (“Nee-yom”).

Adam Striker, MD, FASA

Adam Striker, MD, FASA, is the past chair of the ASA’s Committee on Communications and is the series editor for ASA’s Central Line podcast series. He is Professor of Anesthesiology at Medical College of Wisconsin, a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist at Children’s Wisconsin and serves as Director of Clinical Operations for pediatric anesthesiology at Children's Wisconsin.  He received his undergraduate degree in engineering from Purdue University and his medical degree from Indiana University. He completed his pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Northwestern University.