The ASRA Pain Medicine Resident Section Committee (RSC) promotes the ASRA Pain Medicine mission to trainee members through developing educational opportunities, identifying ways to increase membership and involvement, and creating content to advance pain medicine. The RSC acts as the voice of trainee members within the society. Led by committee chair Dr. Keith Newton and chair-elect Dr. "Sisi" Siyun Xie, the five RSC subcommittees are progressing what’s possible in pain medicine.

RSC Leaders

Dr. Keith Newton is a graduate of University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed anesthesiology residency at the University of Central Florida. He joined ASRA to connect with the pain community as he explored an interest in pain medicine. His mentor for ASRA Pain Medicine's Mentor Match Program was Dr. Rakhi Dayal, the program director of his current pain medicine fellowship at UC Irvine. Keith currently serves as the chair of the Resident Section Committee. 

Dr. "Sisi" Siyun Xie is a graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine and is currently completing her residency in anesthesiology at University of Texas Medical Branch. She joined ASRA to learn from leaders in the field and to be involved with various SIGs to increase engagement among residents and medical students. She currently serves as RSC Chair-Elect and aims to foster a community within RSC and to create an alumni group in the future. She is proud of the many trainee authors who published articles in the ASRA News due to her recruitment efforts as previous Newsletter Subcommittee Chair. Her future interests include chronic pain, psychosocial aspects of pain, diversity/equity/inclusion, women empowerment, and global health.

Career Development & Networking Subcommittee

(Led by Drs. Elliott Blankespoor & Mohammed Mushtaq Ahmed Hakim)

Dr. Elliot Blankespoor is a graduate of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Texas Medical Center in Galveston. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to develop connections within the pain medicine community. He has a special interest in the career development and networking subcommittee because of the impact mentorship has had on his career and training.  He enjoys being a part of the RSC for the collaboration with fellow residents and is most excited for the upcoming program director/applicant virtual meet and greet coordinated by the career development and networking subcommittee. 

Dr. Mohammed Hakim is a graduate of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bangalore, India. He is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at The Ohio State University. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine after being introduced to the society through the ASRA Pain Medicine RSC. The welcoming and collegial environment and mentorship he experienced prompted him to take an active role as a resident in the society volunteering with the RSC. He has a special interest in the advocacy and future of the society. His interests include going on to do a chronic pain fellowship and neuromodulation.

Dr. Chris Benhatzel is a graduate of Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently completing a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Ohio State University. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the opportunities they offer to grow the field of pain medicine.  He has a special interest in the career development and networking subcommittee because he believes mentorship is an integral part of medicine and personal growth. He enjoys the sense of community the RSC offers as well as the opportunity to engage with other leaders in the field. His future interests include cancer related pain management, interventional procedures, and neuromodulation. 

Dr. Kristy Fisher is a graduate of St. George’s Medical School and is currently completing a residency in psychiatry. She joined ASRA Pain Medicine because she is very interested in the field of pain medicine and is awaiting match day this September 28th to see where she will end up for her upcoming pain medicine fellowship! She has a special interest in the career development and networking subcommittee because she is curious about all the opportunities the field of pain medicine has to offer. She loves being a part of ASRA Pain Medicine via the resident section committee due to not only gaining the help and support she needed as an upcoming pain medicine fellow, but to offer that same guidance to the incoming residents interested in pursuing pain medicine. She especially enjoys learning from and contributing to the vast, diverse, and innovative research ASRA Pain Medicine has to offer, with her most recent research winning the President’s Choice Abstract Award at the 20^th Annual ASRA Pain Medicine Meeting in November 2021. Her future interests include continuing her research, completing the pain medicine fellowship, and working in the field, while maintaining a very active role in ASRA Pain Medicine.

Dr. Benjamin Gill is a graduate of Kansas City University Medical School and Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst University and is currently completing a residency in PM&R at University of Missouri. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the collegial leadership and focus on knowledge and skills to be successful in pain medicine. He has a special interest in the career development/networking subcommittee to establish collaboration throughout the specialty.  He thoroughly enjoys meeting with other trainees around the country. His future interests include chronic pain, patient advocacy, physician leadership, and medical education.

Dr. Eva Kubrova is a graduate of 2^nd Faculty of Medicine in Prague and is currently completing her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic. She joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of education and opportunities to connect with mentors and peers with similar professional goals. She has a special interest in the networking subcommittee because of the importance of connecting trainees and mentors early in the career and enjoyment of bringing together people with a passion for pain medicine. Her future interests include interventional spine, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and research in regenerative medicine.

Dr. Alexander Roussos is a graduate of Kansas City University Medical School and completed a residency in anesthesiology at Loyola University Medical Center. He is a current chronic pain fellow at the University of California at Davis. 

Other members of this subcommittee include Drs. Muhammad Anwar, Zachary Ashmore, Vinny Francio, Meesha Khatker, Kia Lor, Mahmudul Patwary, Anuj Shah, Stephen Statz, Nirguna Thalla, and Ashley Wetzig.

Education Subcommittee

(Led by Drs. Sami Hafsa & Adam Lepkowsky)

Dr. Sami Hafsa is a graduate of Saint James School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine in 2020 because of his strong interests in interventional pain management and desire to be part of a team which has strong contributions to the field of pain medicine. In 2021 he was nominated to serve as co-chair of the education subcommittee and has since been re-elected for 2022 as well. He has a passion for evidence-based medicine and is an active collaborator for the PBLDs which are on the ASRA Pain Medicine website.  His future interests include cancer pain management, neuromodulation therapies, and minimally invasive interventional procedures. 

Dr. Adam Lepkowsky is a graduate of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to collaborate with other residents/fellows around the country who share similar interests. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because continued education is how we stay up to date with clinical knowledge and keep advancing our practice.  He is currently an education subcommittee co-chair. His future interests include cardiothoracic anesthesia.

Dr. Harmeet Bawa is a graduate of University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and is currently completing his anesthesiology residency at the University of Florida. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because he wanted to engage with collogues and mentors. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because he enjoys collaborating with his collogues and creating recourses that can impact the field of pain medicine. He looks forward to working with ASRA Pain Medicine to spread awareness about this amazing field. His future interests include academic pain medicine, cancer pain, and research.

Dr. Mundeep Bawa is a graduate of University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Florida. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because he wanted to engage more with academic leaders and collaborate with his peers interested in pain medicine. He has a special interest in academic pain medicine and the education subcommittee because he can further advance this field with new ideas and help contribute to the growing body of literature on this amazing field. Mundeep is most excited about collaborating with his colleagues and creating new resources to further advance the field. He also looks forward to working to enhance education and broaden ASRA Pain Medicine’s reach with medical students, residents, and fellows alike. His future interests include research, multimodal pain control, and cancer pain.

Dr. Brian Brenner is a graduate of University of Virginia Medical School and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Virginia. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the opportunity for mentorship, networking, and growth as a physician and educator. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because of a strong interest in medical education and research. He has thoroughly enjoyed the networking opportunities created through the RSC among trainees and faculty and is most proud of his contribution to the national ASRA Pain Medicine medical student task force which is focused on expanding pain medicine education at the medical school level with the goal of increasing the amount of acute and chronic pain physicians in the near future. He initially has a 4-year commitment with the US Navy as an anesthesia consultant. Afterword, he plans to pursue a pain medicine fellowship with interests in cancer pain, neuromodulation, and medical education.

Dr. Michael Finnern is a graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to learn more about the emerging technology in pain medicine. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee due to its academic focus. He served as a dive medical officer in the US Navy for eight years after his surgical internship and is excited to be back in the academic setting. His future interests include neuromodulation and interventional spine procedures.

Dr. Leon Grinman is a graduate of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Middletown, NY and is currently completing a resident in anesthesiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of an interest in regional anesthesia and acute pain management. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because of an interest in creating educational content for future students of pain management. He is proud to work on problem-based learning discussions that will be viewed by a national audience via the ASRA Pain Medicine website. His future interests include continuing his academic career by mentoring new anesthesiology resident physicians in general anesthesia and regional anesthesia and acute pain management.

Dr. Zachary Headman is a graduate of A. T. School University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently completing his anesthesiology residency at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Cleveland, OH. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine after learning about the committee as an intern, and the opportunity has opened many doors for networking, learning, and growth. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because he has always enjoyed teaching others and keeping up with the latest research. Zach's favorite part about being a member of the RSC is the comradery that is fostered by talking with colleagues about topics that everyone finds interesting and exciting. He has enjoyed working on the committee's current problem-based learning discussion projects. Zach's future interests include a chronic pain fellowship and practicing chronic pain in rural/underserved areas.

Dr. Justin A. Johal is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Washington. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the opportunities to learn from other physicians regarding new procedures, techniques, and research-based medicine.  He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because he wants to develop recommendations and monitor activities related to education issues of importance in pain medicine and regional anesthesia. He enjoys researching up-to-date information and networking with other physicians who share similar interests. His future interests include regional anesthesia, ultrasonography, and academic anesthesia.

Dr. Ayaz Khan is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and is currently completing his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at The Ohio State University. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine resident section committee because of his interest in continued medical education and interest in connecting and collaborating with fellow colleagues in the field of pain medicine. He has a special interest in the educational subcommittee and his future interests include interventional and chronic pain medicine.   

Dr. Bill Mallett is a graduate of The University of Michigan Medical School. Upon graduation, he then completed a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Florida, where he served as a Chief Resident.  He is currently completing a fellowship in pain medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the camaraderie, opportunities to participate in education, and programs that allow him to be a mentee and a mentor. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because of the phenomenal teachers and mentors that took him under their wings while he was in residency. He enjoys collaborating with learners from across the country, and he is proud that with ASRA Pain Medicine, he helped develop a PBLD that was referenced for a MOCA minute question.  His future interests include education, neuromodulation, and political advocacy.

Dr. Gabriel Martinez is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the education, mentorship, and networking opportunities. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because of the opportunity to learn and share knowledge. He enjoys collaborating with fellow trainees with similar career aspirations.

Dr. Korey Marshall is a graduate of University of Virginia School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to gain greater insight into current practices and future of regional anesthesia and acute pain management. He is excited to learn new techniques and approaches to pain management from his colleagues and mentors. He will begin a regional anesthesia and acute pain management fellowship at the University Of Virginia in 2023.

Dr. Keith May is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, completed residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, and fellowship in regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine for educational purposes and the ability to network with other professionals in the field. He has a special interest in the resident section committee as he believes its important to get residents interested and involved with the subspecialty early in their career. He looks forward to helping promote ASRA Pain Medicine via social media and developing PBLDs for resident education. His future interests include educating residents/fellows at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and expanding his knowledge of POCUS.

Dr. Yasmin Sritapan is a graduate of Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical School and is currently completing her pain fellowship at University of Virginia. She joined ASRA Pain Medicine for the excellent mentorship and the opportunity to learn, grow, and get more involved in the pain subspecialty. She has a special interest in the Cancer Pain SIG as she finds working with cancer patients very rewarding. She enjoys working with the RSC as it provides a great opportunity for trainees around the nation to network, share, and collaborate to create exciting work together. Her interests include chronic pain, cancer pain, interventional procedures/neuromodulation, and medical education.

Dr. Lee Tian is a graduate of Medical College of Georgia and is currently completing a residency at Brown University for anesthesiology. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to join like-minded individuals who are also passionate about pain medicine. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee to help create new educational content so that more people can learn about this great field. His future interests include medical education, academic pain medicine, and advancement in interventional pain.

Dr. Thuan Vu is a graduate of Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at University of Texas Medical Branch. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the benefits and resources for resident education, networking, and support of interest groups. He has a special interest in the education subcommittee because it is a great opportunity for fellows, residents, and medical students to collaborate. His future interests include chronic pain and neuromodulation.

Other members of this subcommittee include Drs. Salomon Poliwoda, Ge Qu, Claudia Santamaria Ariza, and Michelle Sim.

Membership Subcommittee

(Led by Drs. Christian Roehmer & Adlai Pappy)

Dr. Christian Roehmer is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and is currently completing a residency in PM&R at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to take advantage of its many opportunities for trainees and to learn from the excellent mentors within the organization. He has a special interest in the membership subcommittee because it helps to promote the field of pain medicine amongst a variety of multidisciplinary specialties. He is excited to help lead a new ASRA Pain Medicine RSC Ambassador Program this year. His interests include chronic pain, regenerative medicine, ultrasonography in pain medicine, and medical education.

Dr. Adlai Pappy is a graduate of Emory University School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency in Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine after being introduced to the society through their support of his research with the ASRA Pain Medicine Graduate Student Grant Award. The welcoming and collegial environment and mentorship he experienced at the 2019 meeting prompted him to take an active role as a resident in the society volunteering with the RSC. He has a special interest in the membership subcommittee because cultivating resident members lays the groundwork for the future of the society. He has thoroughly enjoyed meeting and developing relationships with other residents and fellows interested in pain around the country. His future interests include going on to do a chronic pain fellowship.

Dr. Zyad Chaudhary is a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency in neurology. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the camaraderie and the delivery of cutting edge data in the field.  He has a special interest in the membership subcommittee because he would like to build awareness in the space across multiple disciplines. His future interests include headache, axial pain, and acute/chronic pain.

Dr. Kovosh Dastan is a graduate of Howard University Medical School and is currently completing a fellowship in interventional spine and pain specialty. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because he wanted to be part of a larger community of pain physicians and all of its educational and networking resources. He has a special interest in the membership subcommittee, because he wants to increase awareness of the society, especially to his PM&R colleagues with interest in pain so they can learn about this great organization. He is excited about being part of the new ASRA Pain Medicine Ambassador Program.  His interests include mentorship, pain and substance use disorder, and medical marijuana for chronic pain.

Dr. Diana Johnson is a graduate of McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and is currently completing a residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at McGovern. She joined ASRA Pain Medicine because she is committed to contributing to the field of pain medicine. She has a special interest in the membership subcommittee because she is passionate about connecting professionals within the pain community. Dr. Johnson is proud to serve as Administrative Chief Resident of her residency program. She is excited to make lasting peer and mentor relationships in the ASRA Pain Medicine community. Her future interests include the application of principles and interventions in pain management to the rehabilitation patient population.

Dr. Mariana Restrepo Holguin is a graduate of Universidad CES Medical School in Medellin, Colombia and is currently completing residency in anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic Rochester. She joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the opportunities to innovate and collaborate with leaders in the field and to create and improve resources for trainees and people interested in regional anesthesia and pain medicine. She has a special interest in the membership and social media subcommittees because of the involvement with the community and being able to reach out to younger generations that also wish to get involved with RSC and ASRA Pain Medicine. She enjoys collaborating with other committees and discovering all of the different strengths and talents RSC members bring to the table. Her future interests include regional anesthesia, resident wellbeing, and diversity and inclusion.

Other members of this subcommittee include Mathia McCormick and Patrice Vinsard.

Newsletter Subcommittee

(Led by Drs. Gautam Sharma & Ajay Kurup)

Website & Social Media Subcommittee

(Led by Drs. Anish Parkash & Soun Sheen)

Dr. Anish Parkash is a graduate of Windsor University School of Medicine and is currently completing a residency at Tower Health/Drexel University in PM&R. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to find like-minded individuals with his same passion for pain medicine. He has a special interest in the social medial subcommittee to help amplify ASRA Pain Medicine as an all specialty inclusive society. He drives to bring new trainees together with the established leaders of the field. His future interests include neuromodulation, regenerative medicine, headache pain, and cancer pain.

Dr. Soun Sheen is a graduate of Albany Medical College and is currently completing a residency in PM&R at the University of Rochester. She joined ASRA Pain Medicine for the many opportunities for trainee involvement and to connect and learn from the many pain leaders involved with the society. She has a special interest in the social media subcommittee to further promote opportunities for all trainees of different backgrounds to get involved. She enjoys working with all members of the RSC to come up with create avenues to expand our presence and help other trainees get involved. Her future interest include chronic pain, cancer pain, and neuromodulation.

Dr. Kaylie Dean is a graduate of Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently completing a residency in physical medicine & rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic. She joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of the opportunities to learn about new topics in pain medicine and to network with future leaders in the field. She has a special interest in the social media subcommittee because it is a great way to connect with others in the field of pain medicine. Her future interests include interventional pain, regenerative medicine, and musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Dr. Michael Gyorfi is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to be apart of the forefront of pain management and meet like minded providers. He has a special interest in the social media and career development subcommittees. He enjoys clinical research and teaching medical students for which he has be awarded the Golden Apple teaching award. His future interests include working as a well balanced pain provider in an academic setting.

Dr. Blessing Ogbemudia is a graduate of Indiana University Medical School and is currently completing a residency in anesthesiology at University of Florida. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because he wanted to connect with like minded individuals with similar interests and an opportunity to seek out mentors and enhance his development relating to pain. He has a special interest in the social media subcommittee because it is the modern tool used to connect with people from all over and provides opportunity for ASRA Pain Medicine to continue to be known to all. His future interests include pain management, interventional/chronic pain, and academia.

Dr. Shrikanth Parthasarathy is a graduate of Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently completing his anesthesiology residency at University of Central Florida. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to engage in new advancements in the field of acute and chronic pain, network with like minded individuals, and receive mentorship from seniors in the field. He has a special interest in the social media and newsletter subcommittees in order to continue to spread awareness and connect with colleagues. Future interests chronic pain, interventional pain, and academia.

Dr. Edgar J. Remotti is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical Mchool and is currently completing his anesthesiology residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine because of his strong commitment to pain education, leadership, and desire to mentor others in the field. He is particularly interested in the social media subcommittee to further promote the rapidly evolving field of pain management and to network with like-minded peers in the medical community. He is also excited about his new positions in the ASRA Pain Medicine Resident Student Committee and ASRA Pain Medicine Ambassador Program. His interests include interventional/chronic pain, sports medicine, healthcare administration, and medical education.

Dr. Justin Schappell is a graduate of The University of Texas at Houston Medical School and is currently completing residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic. He joined ASRA Pain Medicine to build a professional network in the field, participate in leadership opportunities, and present research. He has a special interest in the social media subcommittee because of how it can be used to readily disseminate content that benefits residents and fellows interested in pain medicine. He most enjoys the collaborative nature of the ASRA Pain Medicine RSC and seeing its many members expanding their roles in creative ways. His future interests include pain fellowship this upcoming academic year and a career in academic pain medicine with roles in education and program leadership. 

Dr. Sukhman Shergill is a graduate of AIIMS, New Delhi and is currently completing her anesthesiology residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. She joined ASRA Pain Medicine as it is the perfect platform for various learning opportunities in the field of pain medicine and to connect with fellow colleagues and mentors in the field. She has a special interest in the social media subcommittee to help expand the reach of the RSC and ASRA Pain Medicine among trainees in different fields. She enjoys working alongside other members of the RSC who work tirelessly to further increase the reach of the committee and create opportunities of value for future trainees to be part of. Her future interests include chronic pain and cancer pain.