In January 2026, Professors of Anesthesiology Drs. Keith Ruskin and Anna Ruskin joined the department’s clinical faculty team. The physician duo brings to UNC years of experience in aviation and aerospace medicine, innovating safety science solutions to help pilots, air traffic controllers and astronauts respond to high-risk/high-stress scenarios. The Ruskins each contribute unique talents to advancing the department’s academic mission. As they enter a next career chapter at UNC, however, the impact of their combined expertise may be felt most greatly in teaching next-gen anesthesiologists to use identified human capabilities and limitations as tools for optimizing performance in peri-operative and OR settings.
As a physician scientist, Neurosurgery Anesthesiologist Keith Ruskin, MD, FAsMA, FRAeS, FAsHFA, has built his career around informing clinical practice via translational findings of human performance studies in aerospace medicine. His career-long primary focus has centered around applying rigorous human factors principles to developing high-risk, high-reliability systems. Some highlights from Dr. Ruskin’s career portfolio include: 1) Developing national guidelines to screen morbidly obese pilots for obstructive sleep apnea and managing in-flight cardiac arrest (a collaborative Federal Aviation Administration-sponsored, public safety initiative); 2) Developing a fatigue risk management program with NASA scientists for residents in training, drawing from astronaut experiences with induced torpor for long-duration spaceflight; and 3) Helped to develop a new arrival procedure for the National Airspace System (an FAA-funded study of air traffic control alarms, alerts, and warnings).
A highly regarded leader in aerospace medicine, Dr. Ruskin has just been named the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA)’s delegate (2026 – 2027) to the American Medical Association. He has additionally authored influential articles examining automation in healthcare and the effects of PPE on human performance. A lifelong aviator, Dr. Ruskin holds a Commercial Pilot certificate with multiple airplane ratings, including a Second-in-Command type rating for the Douglas DC-3. 
Anna Ruskin, MD, FAsMA, brings an equally inspiring and complementary set of talents to UNC Anesthesiology. She is a long-time passionate advocate for engaging anesthesiologists in the Aerospace Medical Association and the Aerospace Human Performance Association, recognizing how uniquely well-suited the specialty is through its expertise in physiology, team dynamics, and risk assessment.
Clinically, she practices neurosurgical and otolaryngologic anesthesia care. As an accomplished and dedicated educator, Dr. Ruskin has spent more than a decade teaching operating room workflow, procedures, ultrasound, and ergonomics to incoming CA-1 residents. At UNC, she will continue this impactful work in the “Intro to the OR” curriculum, beginning in AY 2026-2027. Dr. Ruskin will also continue teaching an undergraduate “Extreme Physiology” class developing during her time on faculty at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Ruskin notes: “I am guided by the goal of ‘working on cool things with cool people.’ I am deeply invested in helping new residents succeed clinically, while supporting colleagues in developing the skills necessary to conduct meaningful research.”
UNC Anesthesiology Chair Ted Sakai, MD, PhD, MHA, FASA, reflected: “Together, Drs. Keith and Anna Ruskin represent a remarkable partnership—uniting excellence in clinical care, education, research, aviation, and human performance science. We are delighted to welcome them and look forward to the insight, energy, mentorship, and inspiration they will bring to our community.”