To celebrate Physician Anesthesiologist Week 2020, we asked some of our faculty to tell us why they chose academic medicine and what they find most rewarding about working at an academic medical center. See their responses below:

Melinda Seering, MD

Seering, who completed her residency at Iowa, started her post-residency career in a small private practice group in Wisconsin."It was beneficial, because I was able to do pediatric cases as well as thoracic and cardiac cases," she says. "It also helped hone my regional skills."

When she decided to move back to Iowa to be closer to family, she planned to continue in private practice. But Michael Todd, MD, then-chair of the Department, urged her to consider academic medicine. "I will admit I was initially unsure if I would be able to be an academic physician," Seering says. "Academic physicians have to be able to educate, research, and provide clinical service. I also was worried because many academic anesthesiologists find a niche of services they provide. But I have quite a diverse practice. I am the clinical director of the Ambulatory Surgery Center and do many of those cases. But I also am a member of the acute and regional pain team, which allows me to do more complex orthopedic and regional anesthesia cases. I also continue to take in-house call in the main operating rooms so I can still get a wide variety of cases."

She also has enjoyed the research aspect of working in academic medicine. "I hadn't done much research during residency, but through the mentoring and support of the Department, I have now done 3 randomized controlled trials and have publications," she says. "This experience, plus the daily work with the residents, has helped me to keep current with evidence-based medicine for our field. This is something I am forever grateful for."

Seering also has been able to expand her horizons in her nearly 9 years with the Department. She recently earned a master's degree in Medical Health Delivery Science from Dartmouth, and in 2018, she became the first woman president of the Iowa Society of Anesthesiologists since the 1970s (and only the second woman president in the organization's history).

What's her favorite thing about working in academic medicine?

"One of my greatest joys is watching a resident progress over 4 years from limited anesthesia knowledge to someone I am proud to call a colleague and would be glad to have care for my family member," she says. "I also like the collaboration between specialties and within our Department. The collegiality allows me to want to come to work each day, enjoy my job, and take the best care of our patients."

Denisa Haret, MD

Haret is the Medical Director of Sedation Services for University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and has been a member of the Department since 2009. She chose to stay in academia because "it gives me the opportunity to be part of the development of the next generation of anesthesiologists. This is an incredible honor, and it comes with a great responsibility."

Her favorite things about working at an academic medical center: "I love to teach, and I love being challenged by complex cases."

Archit Sharma, MBBS

Sharma, who joined the Department in 2016, is Director of the Department's Critical Care Medicine fellowship program. He chose academic medicine because he wanted to continue learning. "Academics gave me an opportunity to continue to work with brilliant minds and further my craft. The opportunity to innovate and to be able to work with other learners and educators who constantly keep you on your toes is a big part of my gratification," he says.

He has always wanted to take care of the sickest patients, and working at an academic medical center fulfills that desire. But working with residents and fellows is one of his favorite aspects of his work days.

"Education is a two-way street, and I feel like I continue to learn through working with residents and fellows," he says. "It's a gift that keeps on giving. I teach them; they teach me."

Yatish Ranganath, MBBS

Ranganath joined the Department in 2015 and is interim Division Chief for the Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine group. He was attracted to academic medicine because of "the ability to conduct quality research and to lead the change in our field," he says. "I also love the opportunity to train the next generation and to learn with them."

The most rewarding aspects of working at an academic medical center? "Watching the progress and achievements of our trainees, and contributing to the literature, in however small a way."