The Department of Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology Research Division

Advancing Discovery That Improves Perioperative Care- The Anesthesiology Research Division at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville (UTHSC COM-Knoxville) is dedicated to advancing knowledge that directly improves patient care while shaping the future of perioperative medicine. Our faculty, residents, and collaborators pursue research that spans clinical trials, translational science, and health services innovation.

Research Leadership

Dr. Paul D. Allen, MD, PhD - Senior Research Mentor and Director of Anesthesia Research

Dr. Paul Allen is Professor of Anesthesiology and serves as the Senior Research Mentor and Director of Anesthesia Research for the department. He is a nationally and internationally recognized clinician-scientist who previously held a long-standing faculty appointment at Harvard Medical School, where he achieved the rank of Professor of Anaesthesia (Emeritus).

At UTHSC COM-Knoxville, Dr. Allen provides oversight and guidance for the development of research projects within the department. He works directly with both faculty and residents as a mentor, helping shape study design, foster collaborations, and support grant and publication success. His leadership ensures that departmental research is rigorous, innovative, and impactful.

Dr. Francisca Hammond, OD, MsC - Research Coordinator

Dr. Francisca Hammond serves as the dedicated research coordinator for the Department of Anesthesiology. She is available to residents and faculty for every stage of project development, including:

• Identifying study feasibility and shaping research questions
• Drafting protocols and guiding IRB navigation
• Coordinating data collection and database management
• Structuring timelines, authorship plans, and manuscript production

Dr. Hammond works closely with the Office of Research Support to connect investigators with biostatistics, regulatory, and compliance resources, ensuring projects run smoothly and achieve publication-ready results.

Research Themes and Current Work

Our division’s research reflects broad, multidisciplinary expertise with a strong focus on improving outcomes for patients across the perioperative continuum. Recent publications highlight four main themes:

Perioperative Pain and Opioid Stewardship

• Risk stratification for opioid-induced respiratory depression
• Impact of multimodal analgesia on patient recovery and satisfaction
• Reducing opioid unit dose quantities in common surgeries
• Prescription drug monitoring program and public policy research

Key Faculty:

Dr. Stepahnie Vanderpool, Dr. Jason M. Buehler, Dr. Che A. Solla, and Dr. Matthew B. Vance

Cardiovascular and Neuroanesthesiology

• Effects of evolving anesthesia techniques on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation
• Multimodal strategies for headaches associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Timing of low-dose aspirin after thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke
• Reversal of anticoagulant-associated intracranial hemorrhage

Key Faculty:

Thomas J. Christianson, MD and Terrance Nowell, MD

Translational and Mechanistic Science

• Propofol’s binding and inhibition of skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor 1
• Insulin dosing and hyperglycemia management in ischemic stroke patients receiving continuous enteral nutrition
• Molecular and functional tool development for preoperative and functional status assessment

Health Systems and Quality Improvement

• Lean methodology in perioperative pain management and length of stay reduction
• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols in colorectal surgery
• Protocols for safe MRI imaging in patients with implanted cardiac devices
• Development of novel preoperative assessment tools

Partnership with the Office of Research Support

The Anesthesiology Research Division works closely with the Office of Research Support (ORS), which provides:

• Biostatistical consultation and advanced analytics
• Study design and database management
• IRB and regulatory navigation
• Grant development and compliance support

This partnership allows investigators to focus on discovery while ensuring that every study meets the highest standards of rigor and oversight.

Regional Research Collaborations

We are actively building a regional research collaborative with:

• University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) - campuswide research and academic integration
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) - advanced computing, data science, and translational partnerships
• University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) - statewide academic health system and clinical collaboration

As part of this effort, we are recruiting a new PhD-level faculty member at the intersection of computational biology and anesthesiology. This role will strengthen our ability to integrate clinical medicine with advanced analytics and multi-omics research, helping drive translational science from bench to bedside.

Commitment to Training and Mentorship

Our division is committed to developing the next generation of physician-scientists. Residents and fellows benefit from:

• Mentorship with Dr. Paul Allen as Senior Research Mentor
• Project development and management with Dr. Francisca Hammond
• Access to ORS resources in study design, data, and analytics
• Opportunities to present at national meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals
• Collaborative projects with UTK, ORNL, and UTHSC research teams

Conclusion

Through strong leadership, dedicated support, and regional collaboration, the Anesthesiology Research Division is advancing patient-centered science while training the next generation of academic anesthesiologists. Our mission is clear: to translate discovery into better outcomes for patients in Tennessee and beyond.

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