At the 2026 Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) Annual Meeting In Montreal, Canada, nine current trainees, seven faculty members and nine of 11 UNC Obstetric Anesthesia alumni fellows provided an exceptional representation for UNC Anesthesiology at this year’s SOAP meeting. UNC Anesthesiology was also well-represented in conference engagement and leadership. Department SOAP attendees delivered 15 presentations, moderated SOAP poster sessions, and led and participated in SOAP committee meetings.
Faculty: Drs. Hannah Jennings-Davis, Elisa Takalo, Christine McKenzie, Lacey Straube, Ben Cobb, Kathleen Smith, Amy Penwarden
Fellows: Briel Lee, MD (2025-2026 Obstetric Anesthesia Fellow), Andi Fritz, MD (2026-2027 Obstetric Anesthesia Fellow)
Residents: CA-2 Fiona Chambers, MD, CA-3 Jake Davis, MD, CA-3 Dillon Patel, MD, CA-2 Taylor Catalano, MD, CA-2 Annie Bryden, MD, CA-2 Bella Valente, MD, CA-3 Thomas Quisenberry, MD
UNC Obstetric Anesthesia Division Chief Kathleen A. Smith, MD, reflected: “As always, our fellows and faculty represented UNC with professionalism and distinction, showcasing the strength of our program in Obstetric Anesthesia. The consistent and robust participation of our current and former trainees at the [SOAP] Annual Meeting reflects the enduring impact of UNC’s commitment to education and mentorship. It is a privilege to be part of UNC Anesthesiology, and this annual meeting continues to highlight the collective achievements of our community.
We also connected with numerous former UNC residents who pursued Obstetric Anesthesia fellowships at other institutions and now work for private practices and academic medical centers nationwide. It was great to see so many excellent UNC-trained anesthesiologists remain active contributors to SOAP. The meeting also provided valuable opportunities to engage with prospective fellowship applicants for the upcoming match cycle.”