Candidates for 2023-2024 Resident Scholar Program Selected

ASA is pleased to recognize and congratulate the next cycle of participants in the Anesthesiology Policy Research Rotation in Political Affairs - also known as the Resident Scholar program. Five talented anesthesiology residents have been selected to participate in the 2023-2024 Resident Scholar program, an ABA-approved rotation that allows resident physicians who will be in their CA-3 or fellowship year to experience the political, legislative, and regulatory factors that affect the delivery of patient care.

The selected Resident Scholars are Mohammed Mushtaq Ahmed Hakim, MD, Brian Brenner, MD, Petra Elias, MD, Justin Yuan, MD, and Andrew Wheeler, MD. These candidates were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants based on engagement in measurable advocacy activities, regional representation, program representation, and a personal interview. Short biographies of our selected Resident Scholars are included below:

Selected Residents:

Mohammed Mushtaq Ahmed Hakim, MD

Dr. Hakim is a CA-2 at The Ohio State University and President-Elect of the ASA Resident Component. He holds several leadership roles, has a strong history of advocacy, and notable work with involvement in several DEI initiatives, including working with underserved and underrepresented communities. He shared that he will take what he learns from the rotation and bring it back to his home institution. Furthermore, Dr. Hakim has attended the LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE and ANESTHESIOLOGY meetings.

Brian Brenner, MD

Dr. Brenner comes from a military family and has developed a passion for promoting health equity for Latino patients, physician-led care, and pain medicine. His father is a physician, and his grandfather was a Naval Officer, both are roles that he has now assumed. He is involved with ASA and Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists (VSA) on a number of advocacy initiatives and currently resides in Virginia where he is a CA-2 at the University of Virginia. He was recently elected as one of the chief residents of the University of Virginia Anesthesiology residency program.

Petra Elias, MD

Dr. Elias is a CA-2 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her interests lie in identifying solutions to address healthcare disparities within vulnerable patient populations. She is passionate about ASA’s Safe VA Care initiative and a proponent for protecting physician-led anesthesia care, especially for Veterans. Dr. Elias is a member of the ASA Grassroots Network and ASA Team 535 and has attended ASA’s LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE.

Justin Yuan, MD

Dr. Yuan is currently a CA-2 at Stanford University and has a strong history of advocacy involvement. He has been engaged with FAER, contributed to the ASAPAC, and participated in numerous grassroots campaigns. He is a past-president of both the ASA Medical Student Component and ASA Resident Component. Dr. Yuan was recently elected Chief Resident and has an interest in promoting resident wellness. He looks forward to continuing his advocacy at Stanford where he hopes to stay and one day serve as faculty.

Andrew Wheeler, MD

Dr. Wheeler attended medical school at Eastern Virginia Medical School and is currently a CA-3 at the University of Iowa, where he is finishing his responsibilities as Chief Resident. Next year, Dr. Wheeler will be pursuing his fellowship in regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine at Stanford University while also pursuing his MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Dr. Wheeler has a strong history of ASAPAC fundraising involvement within his department and is a member of both the ASA Grassroots Network and ASA Team 535. Dr. Wheeler is passionate about rural access to care, Medicare reimbursement, and title misappropriation.

Since 2010, the ASA Resident Scholar program has been instrumental in developing resident physician knowledge in advocacy and policy. The program currently has 63 alums who have developed a comprehensive understanding of health care politics and policy and have remained involved in key ASA advocacy initiatives. Residents interested in gaining first-hand experience in a political environment are encouraged to apply. The application for the 2024-25 year will open in December 2023.

Learn more about the ASA Resident Scholar Program.