Whenever anesthesiologist Kaitlyn Kulesus discovers a way to improve the practice of medicine, she can’t help herself: She has to share. Part of this process occurs within her job as assistant professor at OU Health Department of Anesthesiology, but perhaps the bigger part of her sharing and pushing the field forward comes from her love of community.
Kulesus, fondly called “KK” by many, found a supportive community at OU when she was in residency. She made friends and even met her future husband, Will Gordon, another anesthesiologist resident. Her experiences have prompted her to recreate that same sense of togetherness for current residents.
“It really can be so hard, especially mentally [and] emotionally, in medicine,” she said. “It helps to know the people you are going through it with are actually your friends.”
When Kulesus stayed at OU after residency, she discovered ways to improve the community, beyond teaching and building relationships.
“One defining point in my career in medicine came when I was about to graduate residency. I learned that anesthesia is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions in the hospital. I educated myself and tried to educate our department as well,” said Kulesus, adding that she researched the environmental effects of anesthesia gasses and ways to mitigate harm.
“Through a project that I helped on a couple years ago, we were actually able to cut our emissions by an estimated 45%, just through that education.”
Today Kulesus serves on a national committee dedicated to making the field more sustainable through the American Society of Anesthesiologists. She also teaches a humanities course on the topic.
“I probably am a little bad at saying ‘No,’” she said with a laugh. “But, you know, I do like puzzles and problem solving—coming up with creative solutions.”
Kulesus also reinstated the American Society of Anesthesiology Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) Simulation Course at OU in 2023. The program had lapsed in 2021 and, when colleagues began to notice and express concern about it, it was Kulesus who stepped up to bring it back.
Without the course being offered at OU, Oklahoma anesthesiologists would have to travel out of state to maintain their board certifications. At the same time, having the MOCA course at OU has attracted anesthesiologists from around the region to Oklahoma.
“I think it’s kind of cool that it puts us on the map with all these other institutions, these simulation centers from all over the country,” Kulesus said.
Kulesus instructs the MOCA course as well as the simulation lab for residents. Both prompt important conversations about patient care, as physicians are encouraged to share real-life personal experiences and learn from each other in the class.
Inspired by her own mentors, Kulesus embraces opportunities to connect physicians to each other and counsel rising anesthesiologists.
“I find I love working with learners, and I love mentoring,” she said. “It’s just so refreshing, I think, to be around people a little bit younger who are just so excited and have that energy. It just makes you really feel good about the future.”
In sharing her enthusiasm for the future of medicine, Kulesus is strengthening the medical community. She can’t help it. She has to share the love.
