Where Are They Now?

The Department of Anesthesiology has always had such wonderful people who have contributed to make it what it is today. We would like to know what some of our colleagues and friends who have moved on are doing now and how UMMC played a role in their careers and lives. If would like to be featured in future articles of the newsletter, please e-mail Sara Robertson at smbrobertson@umc.edu. We would love to hear from you!

Derrick Chandler, M.D.
Residency Class of 2014

Tell us about what you have been doing since you graduated from the residency program. What does your anesthesia practice look like? How did UMMC prepare you for your current career?
I have been in practicing anesthesia in a private practice setting primarily in Meridian, MS. Our practice is with 4 anesthesiologists practicing medical direction with a great staff of CRNAs. Although ownership of the hospital has changed we still provide outstanding care for our patients despite the challenges/changes that we have all faced over the last decade.

What did you enjoy most about being a resident in this program?
I am so grateful and proud of the experience that I had during residency at UMMC. The curriculum in place starting with the June anesthesia month at the end of the intern year is phenomenal. Like most training institutions UMMC provided experience with difficult cases and patients. However the department and staff at UMC are a close knit family that spent the extra time to make sure we were successful and learned the critical information to become an independent provider in any setting. I gained an enormous amount of confidence clinically while at UMMC. In fact I’m still in contact with former attendings and CRNAs until this day. Embrace those UMMC relationships.

If you could give any advice to our current trainees, what would it be?
If I could give any advice to current trainees, be involved in as many clinical experiences as possible regardless the rotation. Ask your attendings what they would do in different situations with different patients. Ask, ask, ask…..
Every patient, every situation, every anesthesia plan, and every family is unique and different. The more of those you encounter will only help you in your career.

Jessica Safley, M.D.
Residency Class of 2012

Tell us about what you have been doing since you graduated from the residency program. What does your anesthesia practice look like? How did UMMC prepare you for your current career?
In the years since I completed by residency at UMMC, I have had the privilege to work on the Mississippi coast and raise my family in this beautiful area. It is a full force busy life between full time work responsibilities and all the activities that go along with having 4 children.

I recently transitioned from a position at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, where I worked for 8 years, to the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Biloxi, where I am still getting my feet wet. My current practice includes caring for veterans with responsibilities of call, supervising cases, and providing anesthesia as the sole provider. I love caring for veterans whom I feel incredibility indebted to for their service.

What did you enjoy most about being a resident in this program?
My time at UMMC provided me with a well-rounded scope of anesthesia that has served me well over my time in practice. At times, I have held positions where pediatrics dominated my practice. Now, adults and geriatric patients are more frequent. In either position, I knew I had the training to support my practice.

My biggest joy about my residency at UMMC was definitely the family of co-residents that I had while I was in training. We supported, challenged, teased, and upheld each other. I truly miss working alongside those great anesthesiologists.

If you could give any advice to our current trainees, what would it be?
I probably could go on all day about advice for current trainees. Perseverance will pay off, so stick with it. Ask questions about private practice and how those positions differ from training. Try to enjoy and capitalize on your time in training. Learn from your staff and co-residents. Evaluate your personal readiness for all situations and fill in the gaps where needed before you are the last man standing.