One in a series
Clinical Excellence Award
Steven G. Venticinque, M.D., professor of clinical anesthesiology & surgery, program director, Anesthesiology Critical Care Fellowship, director, TRISAT Critical Care Consortium, director, Audie L. Murphy VA Surgical ICU, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine
Remarks by Dr. Henrich at the March 22 awards dinner:
“After retiring from the military with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Steven Venticinque joined the Health Science Center as an associate professor of anesthesiology. He is a nationally recognized expert in anesthesia equipment, and co-authored the latest edition of Miller’s Anesthesia, the premier textbook in the field. His use of evidence-based medicine combined with a team approach for patient care and his empowering leadership style led the mortality rate in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the VA Hospital to fall by 200 percent, making it a model and standard for all VA surgical intensive care units. His bedside manner is highly respected, as he has provided quality care with support, love and compassion when patients and families have needed it most. He practices by asking himself, “What would I want for my family? His answer is always: ‘The best of care.’ ”
From the nominating letter by Richard Kresch, patient:
“On April 22, 2011, I felt like I was having a heart attack. However, it was discovered that I had an aneurysm near my heart. A surgical team with Dr. Venticinque was quickly put together, and for 11 hours they worked to replace six inches of my large blood vessel damaged by an aortic dissection, an uncommon and often fatal condition. God placed Dr. Venticinque on that surgery team which kept me alive against all odds. Since then, he has been present at other hospital admissions and surgeries, and holds a special place in my heart.”