The Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine is proud to announce that Dr. Katherine Heller assumed the role of interim associate medical director for critical care at the University of Washington Medical Center. A long-standing member of our department, Dr. Heller brings nearly a decade of experience and a deep commitment to patient care and provider support.
As Chief of Critical Care Dr. Ronald Pauldine notes, “Anesthesiologists routinely work in environments that stress teamwork and performance at the highest level. This training and experience translate very well to intensive care unit management.”
In her new role, Dr. Heller oversees all adult intensive care units (ICUs), including medical, surgical, cardiac, and transplant units. Her focus is on enhancing quality and safety, supporting unit directors, and fostering cross-ICU collaboration. “My goal is to take care of the people who take care of the patients,” she shared. “That means improving multidisciplinary communication, addressing burnout, and making sure our teams have what they need to deliver excellent care.”
Dr. Heller’s leadership style is rooted in listening, collaboration, and consensus-building. She is particularly passionate about reinvigorating quality improvement efforts and using data to inform care. “We have incredible providers,” she said. “Sometimes the best thing I can do is get out of their way and help them do what they do best.”
Balancing her administrative responsibilities with clinical work, Dr. Heller continues to practice in the operating room and values the flexibility her new role offers—especially as a mother of three young children. “Critical care is the most rewarding part of my job,” she said. “It’s where I feel I make the most impact.”
The department celebrates this exciting milestone and looks forward to the new perspective Dr. Heller will bring to this leadership role.