Adult Multi Specialty Division
Welcome to the Adult Multi Specialty Division in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia (UVA). Faculty members in the Adult Multi Specialty (AMS) Division provide anesthesia for more than 55,000 cases per year including: orthopedic surgery, endoscopy, vascular, ophthalmology, ENT, gynecology, plastics, urology, transplantation, oncology, and general surgery. Anesthetic care is provided in 29 modern surgical suites in the Main OR and 12 off-site in the Outpatient Surgery Center, 4 endoscopy suites, and other sites throughout UVA Health.
Our Division
Katherine Black, MD
Katherine Black, MD
Dr. Black attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she graduated with high distinction with a degree in Biological Sciences and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received her medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha where she graduated with distinction and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society.
Dr. Black completed her anesthesia residency at the University of Virginia in 2011. Her areas of interest include obstetric anesthesia, general anesthesia, and ambulatory anesthesia.
Sunny S. Chiao, MD
Sunny S. Chiao, MD
Dr. Sunny Chiao is a board-certified anesthesiologist. Her clinical practice includes general anesthesiology and obstetric anesthesiology. She grew up in Northern Virginia, and completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Virginia. She received her medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Dr. Chiao completed residency training in Anesthesiology also at UVA, and went on to pursue fellowship training in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement, after which time she joined the UVA faculty. Dr. Chiao has research interests in quality improvement, perioperative informatics, and medical education. In her free time, she has a passion for spending time with her family, traveling, and rescue animals.
Danja S. Groves, MD, PhD
Danja S. Groves, MD, PhD
Dr. Groves is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia. She attended Medical School at the University of Münster, Germany, where she also completed her residency in Anesthesiology as well as a fellowship in Cardiac Anesthesia and Critical Care.
Dr. Groves joined the UVA Faculty as a General and Cardiac Anesthesiologist and Intensivist in 2004 and served as the Division Chief of Adult Cardiac Anesthesia from 2013 to 2018. Dr. Groves dedicated time throughout her career to basic and clinical research as well as mentoring students, residents and research fellows over the years. Dr. Groves cares for patients of all types of acuity and procedures in the various settings our department provides anesthesia services.
Lisa Igbani, MD
Assistant Professor
Lisa Igbani, MD
Dr. Lisa Igbani, a Charlottesville native, joined the Dept of Anesthesiology faculty in 2023. She graduated from Charlottesville High School and received her bachelors from the University of Virginia.
Dr. Igbani attended Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine before moving on to complete her residency training in anesthesiology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. It was there that Dr. Igbani developed interests in the challenges of obstetric cases, pain management, and supporting diversity in medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, staying active, and cooking.
Hamelmal Kassahun, MD
Hamy Kassahun, MD
Dr. Kassahun is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kassahun graduated from the Alabama School of Medicine in 2019. She completed a four year categorical anesthesiology residency program at the University of Virginia. In medical school, Dr. Kassahun was awarded a NIH Summer research grant and honored as ‘Scribe of the Year.’
Dr. Kassahun was an outstanding resident in Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia. During residency, she presented at the IARS, on “Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency in a Patient with Prolonged Recovery of Neuromuscular Function after Initial Electroconvulsive Therapy and Subsequent Use of Low Dose Rocuronium with Sugammadex Reversal” in 2020. She completed a Q1 project in 2021 on microagression in the perioperative environment. She is also writing a book chapter titled, “Evidence-based Guide on Difficult Airway Management.” In her time away from the hospital, she enjoys running, hiking, cooking, traveling and spending time with her husband and two young boys.
Ryan E. Lesh, MD
Ryan E. Lesh, MD
Dr. Lesh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. He completed his medical degree at the University of Rochester and his residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia. Following a basic-science research fellowship in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at UVA, he has served on the anesthesiology faculties of Columbia University and the University of Virginia. He had a decade-long tenure in private practice caring mostly for patients having major vascular surgery or thoracic surgery.
His primary interests are in teaching respiratory physiology—particularly respiratory mechanics and control. He practices in the Adult Multi-Specialist Division and also sees patients in the Perioperative Division. Dr. Lesh’s clinical interests involve pulmonary physiology and ventilatory mechanics as they apply to patients undergoing general anesthesia in the operating room. He enjoys reviewing pulmonary physiology with both residents and medical students, especially as it applies to clinical problems. Additionally, he serves as guest faculty in a fourth-year medical school course that addresses the issue of patient suffering and the physician’s response to suffering.
In 2006, Dr. Lesh completed a Master of Divinity degree through the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, and was ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. In Virginia, he serves as a Sunday supply priest, often in small local parishes.
Roshni Montana, MD
Roshni Montana, MD
Dr. Montana was born and raised in New Jersey, and went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree from Nova Southeastern University, where she graduated with Honors. She attended Quinnipiac University, Frank H. Netter, MD School of Medicine in North Haven, Connecticut. She subsequently completed her residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Montana’s areas of interest include: perioperative pain management, trauma anesthesiology and medical education.
Thomas N. Pajewski, MD, PhD
Thomas N Pajewski, MD, PhD
Dr. Pajewski is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia who also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Neurosurgery. He joined the faculty in 1992 and served as director of the Division of Neuroanesthesiology from August 2000 to April 2020.
Dr. Pajewski specializes in the care of patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures for diseases of the central nervous system including the brain and the spine. He is particularly interested in optimizing the care of patients undergoing complex spine operations.
Kyle Quinn, DO
Kyle Quinn, DO
Dr. Quinn started with the Department of Anesthesiology at the end of July in the Adult Multi Specialty Division. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Richmond in 2010 before beginning medical school at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg in 2013. Following graduation, he completed his Anesthesiology residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical System, appointed Chief Resident for his final year.
Dr. Quinn’s wife begins this Fall as a Professor at UVA’s School of Engineering. In their free time, they enjoy spending time with their bernadoodle named Remi.
George F Rich, MD, PhD
Professor of Anesthesiology,
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
George F Rich, MD, PhD
Dr. Rich has been on faculty at UVA since 1989. He is the Harrison Medical Teaching Professor, serving since 2005. Previously, Dr. Rich was the Department Chair for 17 years and the Residency Program Director. Dr. Rich has a long history of clinical excellence and basic science research. He led various committees within the department and mentored countless faculty, residents and medical students.
Dr. Rich is active in various hospital administrative roles, including involvement in patient safety and quality, operating room, and finance committees. Dr. Rich currently practices a broad range of anesthesiology covering many off-sites and cases involving various specialties. He greatly enjoys speaking to faculty, trainees, and medical students on professionalism.
Dr. Rich travels, runs, and adventures with his family. He loves experiencing other cultures, seeing the natural wonders of the world, and viewing wildlife in their natural habitat. He runs a couple marathons each year, including Boston.