Keynote Speaker: Jose L. Pascual, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), FACS, FCCM

Jose L. Pascual, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), FACS, FCCM, is the System Section Chief of Surgical Critical Care for the Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, USA. He is a Professor of Surgery and Neurosurgery and has a cross appointment in the School of Nursing. He trained at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he completed his general surgery residency as well as a PhD in Experimental Surgery. Prior to this, he obtained an MD from the University of Ottawa in Canada. He completed his fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pascual is an attending surgical intensivist at Penn Presbyterian Hospital, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and at the Philadelphia VA. He is the co-Medical Director of the surgical ICU at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He also attends as a neurointensivist in the Penn System. Dr. Pascual currently runs a bench research laboratory specializing in trauma and specifically traumatic brain injury (TBI). He is the Penn Simulation Center Specialty Director for Surgical Critical Care.

Ghassan Bandak, MBBS

Dr. Bandak earned his medical degree in Jordan in 2009 before moving to the United States in 2011 to complete his Internal Medicine residency at Henry Ford Hospital. He subsequently completed a Nephrology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, followed by a two-year Critical Care Medicine fellowship at Mayo Clinic. He began his academic career at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he served as an intensivist and contributed to the expansion of the Pulmonary fellowship into a combined Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship. A passionate medical educator, he developed several educational curricula, including courses in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), airway management, and ICU procedures. He also served as Associate Program Director for the Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship. In 2022, he joined the faculty in San Antonio as both a nephrologist and intensivist. His clinical practice focuses on inpatient nephrology and critical care. He serves as the Medical Director for the Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) program and the UHS DMC dialysis unit. Education remains a central focus of his academic career. He is actively involved in teaching across multiple POCUS educational programs, developed an introductory mechanical ventilation curriculum for our Pulmonary Critical Care fellows, and currently serve as Associate Program Director for the Nephrology fellowship, where he helped establish the Nephrology Critical Care track. His research interests lie at the intersection of nephrology and critical care, with a particular focus on volume management in critically ill patients. He also participates as an investigator in industry-sponsored clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes for patients with kidney disease and critical illness.

Merline George, BSRC, RRT-ACCS

Respiratory Care Educator at The UT MD Anderson Graduate of the UT Health Educator Fellowship Program Member of the American Association of Respiratory Care Member of the Texas Society of Respiratory Care Member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine

Kevin Proud, MD, FCCP

Kevin Proud graduated from Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine in 2007. He went on to complete his residency in internal medicine at the University of Michigan and subsequently pulmonary & critical care medicine fellowship at University Hospitals of Case Western Reserve. Since his completion of training in 2014 he has been faculty at UT Health San Antonio, in San Antonio Texas, where he currently holds the title of Professor of Medicine. He is quadruple board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine and Critical Care Echocardiography. He has been the program director of the Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship at UT Health San Antonio since 2022. His main academic interests include point-of-care ultrasound, shock, and mechanical ventilation.

Tien Pham, PharmD, BCCCP

Tien earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston in 2023. He completed PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Memorial Hermann Southwest in Houston, TX, and recently finished his PGY-2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus in Cleveland, OH. Tien’s areas of interest include liver cirrhosis, acute liver failure, septic shock, antimicrobial stewardship, vasopressors, analgesia/sedation, and ARDS.

Irfan Masood, MD, MBBS

Dr. Masood completed his medical school (MBBS) in 2011 from Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. He subsequently completed residency training in General Surgery in Pakistan before pursuing further training with a Surgery Internship at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He then completed a Diagnostic Radiology residency, followed by a fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He is currently a practicing Vascular Interventional Radiologist with clinical interests in minimally invasive image-guided therapies, complex vascular interventions, oncologic interventions, and quality improvement. He is actively involved in resident education, clinical research, and advancing patient care through innovative endovascular and image-guided techniques.

Liwayway (Li) Andrade, MD

Liwayway R. Andrade, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at UT Health San Antonio. A board-certified pulmonologist and critical care physician, she completed Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellowship training at UT Health San Antonio and advanced fellowship training in Pulmonary Vascular Disease at UCLA. Her clinical and academic focus includes pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, and right heart failure. She is involved in multidisciplinary PE and PH care across inpatient and outpatient settings and serves on the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) committee.

Ansu Abe, PT, DPT, CCS

Ansu Abe is  currently working as a Senior Physical Therapist and Adjunct Clinical Faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She received her Bachelor’s in Physical Therapy from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India in 2004. Later, she received her Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Des Moines University in Iowa and received her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2016. She became a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy in 2024. She began her career as a Physical Therapy Assistant in a skilled nursing facility and an outpatient PT clinic. She has been a Physical Therapist for 16 years with experience in a wide variety of populations and diagnoses including cardiothoracic surgeries, trauma, pulmonary, geriatric, orthopedics, and stroke patients. She started focusing on critically ill patients since 2017. She has completed a capstone project,” A Manual: Role of physical therapy in Parkinson’s Disease.” in 2016 for the UTMB’s outpatient PT department. She has also submitted a case report in 2022 on “Improving Functional status by implementing Early Mobility and Increased Frequency of Physical Therapy Treatment Status post LVAD/RVAD surgery to patient tolerance in Acute Care Setting: Case Report.” to APTA for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Board Certification. She has provided continuing education for Rehabilitation Services at UTMB for “Early mobilization of Adult Patients on ECMO.” and” PT’s Role and Management of Patient with Venous Thromboembolism”. She serves as a clinical instructor for PT students and assist with employee training and orientation with high complexity patients in the ICU and a mentor for therapists. She loves traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Sheila Ott, OTR

Sheila E. Ott, OTR is a Senior Occupational Therapist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the School of Health Professions in Galveston, Texas in 1988 and has practiced for over 38 years in the field of burn rehabilitation. She has been instrumental in the training and mentoring of hundreds of new therapists and students (both OT and PT) in the care of the burn patient. Sheila has and currently serves as the lead representative during the verification/re-verification process of the Blocker Burn Unit for the ACOS accreditation. She has served on many committees and program development over the years for both burn care needs as well as acute care coverage for the university. She has presented at the national and state level on burn rehabilitation as well as provided CEU courses locally on burn rehabilitation and splinting the upper and lower extremity. She guest lectures yearly at Texas Women’s University in Houston for OT Doctorate level students and at UTMB – School of Health Professions for the PT Doctorate level students. She participated in SOAR training and at the World Burn Congress. She has Co-authored multiple chapters in the Total Burn Care book, editions 1-5. Sheila has dedicated many years to the practice and teaching of burn care in all settings and continues to support the burn community today.

Annette Jurkovac, BSN, RN

Annette received her bachelor’s of science in nursing degree from UTHSCSA in May 2013. Her nursing career began in medicine critical care at University Hospital in San Antonio. After 6 years of adult critical care, she pursed an opportunity to train in pediatric/neonatal ECMO and started as a PRN ECMO specialist in December of 2019. When the covid pandemic hit, UH’s pediatric-only ECMO program began treating adult patients. As the adult ECMO program grew Annette took a full-time position with the team. Over the last 6 years as a specialist, she has embraced a multi-disciplinary approach to safely mobilize adult ECMO patients. She focuses on training bedside nurses along with physical & occupational therapists in mobility safety and ECMO emergencies. Annette also represents the ECMO department in quarterly collaborative meetings with providers, therapists and bedside nurses discussing barriers among other mobility concerns in the critical care environment. The ECMO program at University Hospital in San Antonio currently holds a Gold ELSO Center of Excellence designation and is currently under evaluation for platinum status.

Lyndsey Hopkins, BSN, RN, CCRN

As a Surgical Intensive Care nurse with 13 years of experience, Lyndsey serves as a dedicated advocate for early mobilization, partnering with multidisciplinary teams to promote evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes. Outside of the hospital, she enjoy party planning, decorating, and operating her own embroidery business where creativity and attention to detail are at the forefront of everything she does. These same qualities translate into her nursing practice, allowing her to approach patient centered care with precision, organization, and compassion. Whether collaborating with an interdisciplinary team or championing early mobility, she is committed to creating the best possible outcomes for every patient entrusted to her care.

Kathleen Strehler, BSN, RN

Kathleen Strehler BSN,RN is a critical nurse with five years of experience in the Surgical ICU where she acts as a charge nurse, bedside nurse, educator and patient advocate. Throughout her career, she has learned the importance of compassion, evidence based practice and a patient – centered approach. Prior to becoming a nurse she obtained her Bachelors of Fine Arts from UT Austin with a specialty in Dance. Her experience as an artist has helped shape her perspective as a clinician. Her background in movement has given her a unique appreciation for body mechanics, mobility, non verbal communication and the connection between physical movement and over all well being.

Amber High, DNP, APRN, CRNA, CNE, NC-BC, CNE

Dr. Amber High, DNP, CRNA, CNE, is the Assistant Program Director, Clinical Director, and Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia Program at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Nursing. With 25 years of experience in healthcare, including more than 17 years as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, she maintains an active clinical anesthesia practice while serving in academic leadership, bringing a unique perspective that integrates patient care, education, and organizational well-being. Dr. High’s scholarship focuses on emotional intelligence, clinician well-being, suicide prevention, and the Second Victim Phenomenon. She led the implementation and evaluation of an interdisciplinary peer support program within the UTMB Department of Anesthesiology, improving awareness of and access to support for healthcare professionals following adverse clinical events. The program has been published in the peer-reviewed literature, received state and national recognition, and contributed to funded national research examining the Second Victim Phenomenon among anesthesia professionals. In addition to her research, Dr. High has presented nationally and internationally on clinician well-being, peer support, and emotional intelligence. She serves on the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists’ SEE Item Writing Subcommittee, is actively involved with the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and mentors students in legislative advocacy through CRNA Capitol Day. As an educator and clinician, Dr. High is passionate about translating evidence into practical strategies that strengthen healthcare teams, foster psychological safety, and improve outcomes for both clinicians and the patients they serve. Her work is grounded in the belief that supporting the well-being of healthcare professionals is essential to advancing safe, compassionate, and high-quality patient care.

Chelsea Casey, MD

Dr.Chelsea Casey is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and one of the Associate Program Directors at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), where she earned her medical degree and completed anesthesia residency. She is an active member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Texas Society for Anesthesiologists. Dr.Casey is passionate about clincian wellness, peer support, and building systems of peer support that help clinicians recover after adverse events. She completed peer support training through UTMB’s pilot program peer support program and has since become a strong advocate for creating cultures of psychological safety and support for healthcare professionals. Her work has included presenting outcomes from UTMB’s peer support program at the Texas Medical Associations Annual Conference, where the project received the People’s Choice First Place Award. She has also presented nationally to the Society for Critical Care Medicine on second victim phenomenon, led institution-wide workshop for multidisciplinary clinicians at UTMB, and organized and moderated a “Train the Trainer workshop for the Texas Society for Anesthesiology to equip physicians with the skills to recognize and support colleagues experiencing emotional distress after adverse events. Through her education and leadership roles, Dr.Casey remains committed to advancing peer support initiatives and promoting clinician well-being.

Jeffrey S. Farroni, PhD, JD

Dr. Jeffrey S. Farroni, PhD, JD, serves as Professor and Director of the Institutional Ethics Program for the Health System, as well as Associate Director of Bioethics at the Center for Correctional Healthcare Excellence at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Farroni completed graduate training in Medical Science with a focus on neuropharmacology and molecular biology, followed by postdoctoral and fellowship training in neuroscience and translational research ethics. Legal training concentrated on health law, policy, and bioethics. Prior to a career in clinical and research ethics, Dr. Farroni held positions in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries as a clinical scientist. Areas of professional interest include clinical ethics, end-of-life care, relational ethics, and well-being.

M. Ramu Annamalai, DO

Dr. Annamalai is a pediatric intensivist at Shriners Children’s Texas and has an interest in the metabolic response of hyperinflammed pediatric patients. He earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Illinois and his medical degree from Touro College of Medicine in New York. He completed a pediatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine in San Antonio, followed by a pediatric critical care fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. As part of additional subspecialty training, Dr. Annamalai spent a year at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago pursuing a pediatric neurocritical care fellowship.

Dharani K. Narendra, MD, FCCP

Dharani Kumari Narendra, MD, FCCP, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine, with a distinguished career in clinical care, medical education, academic leadership, quality improvement, and professional service. Dr. Narendra earned her MBBS from Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences in Bengaluru, India. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, followed by fellowship training in Pulmonary Medicine, where she served as Chief Fellow, and a Critical Care Medicine fellowship at New York Methodist Hospital. Before joining MD Anderson in 2025, Dr. Narendra served for more than a decade on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine. Her clinical work included leadership and patient care at Ben Taub Hospital, Baylor CHI St. Luke’s Hospital, and Texas Children’s Hospital–Pavilion for Women. At Ben Taub Hospital, she served as Associate MICU Director and Medical Director for Respiratory Care, leading critical care protocols, respiratory care initiatives, and patient safety efforts, including ARDS management, prone positioning, delirium screening, peripheral pressor use, and prevention of hospital-acquired infections. A dedicated clinician-educator, Dr. Narendra has held major educational leadership roles, including Program Director of the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program, Associate Program Director, Respiratory Course Director for second-year medical students, and Co-Director of the Cardiology, Respiratory, and Renal course for first-year medical students. She has developed curricula, led workshops, taught medical students, residents, and fellows, and mentored numerous trainees whose scholarly work has been presented at national and international conferences. Dr. Narendra’s academic interests include respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, airway disorders, severe hypoxemic respiratory failure, and medical education. She has authored peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, abstracts, and professional commentaries, and she has presented widely at CHEST, ATS, SCCM, Pri-Med, and international critical care conferences. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Distinguished CHEST Educator Award 2024 and 2025, the Baylor College of Medicine Norton Rose Fulbright Faculty Excellence Awards in education and leadership, the Women of Excellence Award, the Early Career Award for Excellence in Patient Care, and multiple teaching awards from residents and fellows. Through her work as a physician, educator, mentor, and leader, Dr. Narendra has made significant contributions to pulmonary and critical care medicine, advancing patient care while training and inspiring the next generation of clinicians.

Rhea Soltau, PharmD, BCCCP

Rhea Soltau, PharmD, BCCCP is the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) on the Galveston campus. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and completed PGY1 in Pharmacy Practice at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and PGY2 in Critical Care at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. Following post graduate training she worked as a medical, surgical, and neurotrauma ICU Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake before transferring to UTMB Galveston. Dr. Soltau is actively involved in professional organizations, both as an active member and serving in leadership roles within the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology (CPP) Section of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). She is also committed to pharmacy education, serving as a preceptor for pharmacy residents and students and contributing to continuing education for pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Her research interests focus on critical care pharmacotherapy, trauma, shock, and interdisciplinary education.

Kathryn Agarwal, MD

Dr. Agarwal has pursued an academic career in developing hospital programs to improve the care of hospitalized older adults since completion of geriatrics fellowship in 2003 at Harvard Medical School. Clinically, she has led two Acute Care for Elderly programs as well as geriatrics consultation services at four hospitals. Most of her time is spent in administrative work on quality efforts for care for older adults across the 8 hospitals in Houston Methodist System. She leads programs to address all the aspects of Age-Friendly Health Systems focused on prevention and management of delirium and falls. She is also the medical director for Post-Acute Care in a Medicare Shared Savings program in which she works with skilled nursing facilities and also with primary care practices on issues of dementia. She is co-investigator on a 5-year study across 4 hospitals through Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute to study if increased sleep can be accomplished in the hospital and if so, can this reduce the impact of delirium for older adults.

Holly A. West, DHEd, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA

Dr. Holly West, DHEd, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA is Director of Mentoring Programs in the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Office of Faculty Development and an Associate Professor of Instruction in the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program. She has built a distinguished career spanning academia, clinical practice, research, and leadership. She is a trained PA and earned a Doctorate in Health Education to pursue her passion for teaching. She has been at UTMB since 2008 in various Faculty roles within the PA Program, OB/GYN Department, and the JSSOM Office of Educational Development. As the inaugural Director of Mentoring Programs- Education since September 2025, she supports faculty across the academic continuum in education and leadership areas. Dr. West is an invited faculty development speaker, author, and curriculum developer. She is recognized for excellence in education and leadership, receiving numerous teaching awards, four educational endowments, and designation as a Distinguished Teaching Professor and Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Associates. She was the elected Director of the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers and currently is the elected Director-Elect of the Kenneth I. Shine Academy of Health Science Education. Her leadership continues at the national level for medical and health professions education boards and conferences.

Rebecca McClay, DNP, MS, ACNPC-AG, NPD-BC, TCRN, CCRN-CMC-CSC

Dr. Rebecca McClay is a Critical Care Nurse Practitioner licensed to practice in multiple states. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in Adult–Gerontology Acute Care from the University of Arizona. Her current scholarly work centers on enhancing the bedside experience through the promotion and implementation of Healthy Work Environment (HWE) Standards, resulting in peer reviewed publications and two textbooks. Dr. McClay is actively engaged with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) at both state and national levels, serving on the national APP Resource Committee and previously holding the office of President of the SCCM Texas Chapter. She continues to support the SCCM Texas Chapter as Chair of the Membership Committee and as a member of the Nominations Committees. Her professional service further includes roles with Texas Nurse Practitioners on the Education Committee as Secretary and with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) as a member of the Healthy Work Environment workgroup, examination development committees, and as a Beacon Senior Reviewer.