CA-2 Bios

Hobbies: Anything Home DIY, Arts and Crafts, Remodeling

Education history: Bachelors , Masters - Colorado State University Ft. Collins, Rocky Vista College of Osteopathic Medicine - DO

Fun facts: I am the 7th of 12 children

Before I came into medicine: I took one year off prior to starting medical school, I worked as a waitress and bartender for that year and continued through medical school

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I pursued anesthesia because I felt it was a perfect variety of people, procedures, and productivity

Jesus Adrian Cardenas

Education history: MD from University of Colorado; BA Native American Studies, BS Biological Anthropology from University of California, Riverside

Hobbies: Vegetable gardening with my kids, Olympic style weight lifting, and Surfing

Fun facts: I went surfing in this little town called Nazare in Portugal and almost got swept out to sea on terrifying little 4-foot waves, I later found out it's home to the biggest waves in the world over 100 foot Before I came into medicine: I was enjoying my late 20s traveling, surfing and weight lifting

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I decided on Anesthesiology because I felt like I had found my people in this field. I was excited and curious about every field of medicine as a student and I felt like the residents and the attendings still had a genuine curiosity for their field. As I learned more about the field I really liked the attention to physiology and the high stakes decision making that needs to take place

Alex Connelly, MD 

Hometown: Azusa, CA (Los Angeles) 

Medical School: University of Colorado 

Intern Year: Internal Medicine Residency at UC San Diego; worked as a Hospitalist at Keck/USC for three years prior to starting Anesthesia Residency at CU 

Hobbies: Both social and competitive dancing in West Coast Swing, and I have taken up scuba diving in the past year. I hope to still be able to do some high-altitude scuba while in CO! 

Favorite Denver activity: City Park Jazz, followed by Washington Park Pub Run! 

Education history: Undergrad: Washington University in St Louis (Biology: Neuroscience major, Psychology minor). Medical School: West Virginia University (MD). Intern Year: University of Colorado School of Medicine (General Surgery)

Hobbies: Cooking, skiing, hiking, gardening, travel, playing video games, and singing with the Denver Gay Men's Chorus

Fun facts: I've baked a Boston Cream Pie on a glacier at 12,000 feet while on a 23-day expedition in WY

Before I came into medicine: Like many, I went directly from undergrad to med school and then started residency, but in switching from general surgery to anesthesiology I had some time off and worked as a bartender and in public health doing COVID work for a university here in Denver

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I'm fascinated by the complex interplay of different physiologic systems, and as anesthesiologists we also have the unique role of helping to ease people's pain and comfort them during stressful times of their lives (pre-operatively or when in the ICU). I also enjoy the cooperative environment of the OR and ICU and love being able to work with many different specialties and patient populations

Logan George

Education history: I went to Grand Valley State University for undergrad and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine for my MD

Hobbies: I enjoy doing anything outdoors - hiking, running, biking, gardening, kayaking

Fun facts: I collect an antique dishware called Jadeite!

Before I came into medicine: I pretty much went straight through undergrad into med school/residency, but I worked and volunteered at a few different nursing homes throughout that time

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I really enjoy the variety of the procedural aspects that incorporate pharm and physiology to take care of the patient as a whole

Brian Greathouse

Education history: Received a Bachelors in Biochemistry from Albion College in Michigan and completed my MD training at the University of a Cincinnati College of Medicine. I then did a Transitional Internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

Hobbies: Hiking, camping, scuba, soccer, cooking, and travel

Fun facts: I once went diving with a school of hammerhead sharks while living in Japan

Before I came into medicine: Boring traditional student going straight into medical school, but spiced it up by joining the Navy and spending 4 years doctoring Marines after internship

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: Procedures, physiology, and being able to tell the same 5 jokes in pre-op

Cory Johnson

Education history: Bachelors: University of Arizona, Med School (MD): UCLA/Charles R Drew University

Hobbies: DIY Projects, Movies of all kinds, Trivia

Fun facts: I wrote 10+ chapters of a mystery novel about organized crime that i've been meaning to finish for quite some time

Before I came into medicine: Space Systems Operations with the US Air Force (now aptly known as the Space Force). Lots of satellites flying around that I used to know how to control

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: Anesthesia is the perfect blend of medicine and procedures with just a touch of adrenaline

Amy Krepps

Education history: MD, MSPH

Hobbies: skiing, climbing, live music, cooking classes, wine

Fun facts: I have a lifelong goal of skiing all 7 continents

Before I came into medicine: Epidemiologist, global health work

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: Wide breadth of medicine, acuity, the people, procedural, academia

Dustin Lamb

Education history: BA in Psych at University of Colorado Boulder, MD at University of Colorado School of Medicine

Hobbies: Snowboarding, hiking, camping, cooking, scuba diving

Fun facts: My wife and I got the opportunity to scuba dive with manta rays in Hawaii

Before I came into medicine: I worked in inpatient psych at the Children's Hospital Colorado

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I enjoy the OR and critical care and I like that anesthesia combines so many different roles in the OR to provide care for each patient

Ali Lilo

Education history: MD

Hobbies: running, fitness, outdoor activities and food

Fun facts: I studied and worked in sports nutrition as my side gig

Before I came into medicine: I am non traditional applicant so I went to medical school right after high school. So didn't do much before medicine but I worked in computer software company as a part time during high school and first couple of years of medical school. My medical school is 6 years plus 2 years of internship.

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: After having a fairly long journey in medicine getting exposed to different specialities at different settings, I love how anesthesia combines medical knowledge, and procedural skills in a fast pace that keeps me mentally stimulated to be ready for any challenge until achieving the good outcome of maintaining normal physiology and patient comfort.

Rory Loo

Education history: Undergrad: Tulane University; Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin (MD); Transitional Year Residency: Aurora St. Lukes Hospital in Milwaukee, WI

Hobbies: Being outside! Climbing, fly fishing, hammocking, snowboarding, spending time with my dachshund, Ollie!

Fun facts: I was an extra on 22 Jump Street

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: Being able to experience human physiology in motion, the collegial atmosphere in the OR, and the anesthesiologists I've worked with are so fulfilled!

Rosalie (Olga) Macias

Education history: Bachelor's at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas; MD at McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas

Hobbies: Running, hiking, playing volleyball (or really any kind of sport), biking, reading, baking, traveling, being with family and friends, road trips, sharing food and conversation with others, trying new foods, gardening (currently trying to improve on this), board games

Fun facts: I have never once had a tooth cavity :)

Before I came into medicine: Took a couple of years off before medical school to study for/take the MCAT, worked in a dermatology clinic, and live life in Austin, Texas

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: Procedural, acute and critical care, and because every single anesthesiologist I know is happy with their job!

Helen Madsen

Education history: College- Hamilton College (biology major). Medical school: University of Colorado

Hobbies: skiing/backcountry skiing, hiking, running, baking, reading, learning photography, and re-learning to play the piano

Fun facts: This year I skied in 5 countries and Alaska

Before I came into medicine: Research assistant in a neurosurgery lab

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I love the focus on physiology, the critical care aspect of anesthesia, and getting to be the one who makes patients feel safe and comfortable in the operating room

Kimberly Mendoza

Education history: I will preface by saying I really love school and learning. In addition to my medical career, I decided to go to graduate school twice until my parents told me I needed to obtain a real job... Southern Methodist University: Chemistry (BA), Spanish Language and Literature (BA), Biological Sciences (BS) and a distinction in Biomedical Anthropology Rice University: Chemistry (MA, PhD) University of Texas Medical Branch: MD Harvard University: Health Management (MPH) and a concentration in Humanitarian Studies, Ethics and Human Rights Internship: University of Colorado (Internal Medicine)

Hobbies: Hiking, animal and landscape photography, painting, wildlife advocacy and travelling

Fun facts: I am an indigenous Maya from Guatemala! Although, the Mayan language family is over 5,000 years old, my families' languages include K'iche' and K’iche’ Choltzij and they have been spoken for over 1500 years. Even the famous Mayan mythological text, Popul Vuh, which includes the creation myth, is written in an antiquated and ancestral form of K’iche’ Choltzij

Before I came into medicine: Prior to medical school, I completed my undergraduate studies but lived abroad in Ecuador and Guatemala

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I first became interested in anesthesia as a teen in high school. As part of my independent study I completed research in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery and worked with a CT Peds anesthesiologist too. However, during graduate school I was inspired by a patient to pursue palliative care medicine. I learned I could merge palliative care medicine and anesthesiology to address pain and serious illness to improve quality of life!

Alex Nguyen

Education history: My Bachelors was at University of California, San Diego and I attended medical school here at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (MD)

Hobbies: You can find me playing tennis, trying out new recipes, checking out restaurants/bars, traveling abroad, photographing friends or city street scenes, hiking outdoors, and playing board games with friends!

Fun facts: I was captain for my high school tennis team who was All-American Champions

Before I came into medicine: Prior to medicine, I was enjoying college in sunny San Diego by the beach

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and seeing a variety of cases, but also love the occasional adrenaline rush!

Kyra Rodi

Education history: Hillsdale College - B.S. in Biochemistry // University of Colorado School of Medicine - M.D.

Hobbies: Cooking, camping, painting, reading

Fun facts: I've been to 47 states, and am trying to plan trips to the remaining 3!

Before I came into medicine: I went straight through from college, where I played volleyball and a semester of softball

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I love the hands on physiology and pharmacology, I love being in the OR, and the problem- solving that anesthesia requires!

Jerry Rouleau

Education history: BA in Economics; Biochemistry from Middlebury College; MS in Epidemiology & Biostatistics from Northwestern University; MD from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Hobbies: Girl dad, anything outdoors, board games, trying new restaurants and breweries, going to MLB games, etymology

Fun facts: In the last 10 years have lived in 6 different states, soon to be 7!

Before I came into medicine: Before medical school, I was a statistical analyst (mostly SAS but some Stata and R) working in medical research in Chicago

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: The focus on prevention and patient safety

Alyssa Christina Villanueva

Education history: University of California, Davis - BS. Touro University California MS and DO

Hobbies: Baking, videogames, playing instruments, swimming, new outdoor adventures, trying new food, Disney

Fun facts: I can play 6 instruments well, probably more not so well

Before I came into medicine: Full time student

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I love being able to be the person that can take care of a person when they are at their most vulnerable

Nick Wawrzyniak

Education history: I earned both my Bachelors and Masters degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Florida, where my research focus was in mitochondrial bioenergetics in aging and disease. I earned my DO degree at Nova Southeastern University Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, completing an additional year of training in the pre-doctoral Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellowship program.

Hobbies: I love all things outdoors (hiking, biking, camping, skiing) and attending concerts and music festivals with my close friends and family. I workout regularly (crossfit, olympic lifting, yoga) and am always down for happy hour at a local brewery, try new foods, or hone my culinary skills with new recipes.

Fun facts: When I was a toddler I used to collect worms and spiders while playing outside and put them in my pocket, which would freak my mom out when she washed my clothes later. Sorry mom!

Before I came into medicine: Before medicine I was pursuing my graduate degree, teaching, conducting research, and working as a server part-time at a local sushi bar.

What made me pursue my residency training in Anesthesiology: I enjoy the culture of teamwork and camaraderie in the OR, and found Anesthesiology to be physically rewarding with plenty of hands-on procedures but also intellectually stimulating with the perfect amalgamation of my background and interests in exercise / cardiovascular physiology, pharmacology, and neurophysiology.