Rachel Kacmar, MD

Associate Professor, Anesthesiology


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (2008)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, University of Notre Dame (IN) (2004)
Internship
  • Resurrection Medical Center Program (2009)
Residency
  • McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program, Chief Resident, Anesthesiology (2012)
Fellowships
  • McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program, Anesthesiology (2013)
Languages
English
Department
Anesthesiology

Recognitions

  • Susan G. Perlman Award, Northwestern Memorial Hospital (2012)
    "Awarded to the senior resident who best exemplifies academic excellence, special leadership skills and compassion for patients"
  • H. Steele and Judith Holley Award, Northwestern University, Department of Anesthesiology (2012)
    “Award is presented to the senior resident who best demonstrates those teaching skills needed to train future anesthesiologists”

Publications

  • Park CS, Bauchat JR, Kacmar R, Milicic B, Johnson KB, Littlewood KE, Murray DJ, Boulet JR. Using simulation to study speaking up and team performance. Anesth Analg. 2013 May;116(5):1183-4. PubMed PMID: 23606470
  • Kacmar RM, De Oliveira GS Jr, McCarthy RJ, Wong CA. Status of obstetric anesthesiology fellowship research education in the USA and Canada: a 2013 survey of fellowship program directors. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2014 Nov 28. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25554674
  • Kacmar RM, Mhyre JM, Scavone BM, Fuller AJ, Toledo P. The use of postpartum hemorrhage protocols in United States academic obstetric anesthesia units. Anesth Analg. 2014 Oct;119(4):906-10. PubMed PMID: 25238236
  • Richardson S, Kacmar R, Hawkins J, Eltzschig HK, Kleck C, Burger E, Hodges J. Use of continuous fetal heart rate monitoring during discectomy at 24weeks of gestation. Int J Obstet Anesth 2015:epub Sept 2.
  • Lynn M. Yee, Rachel M. Kacmar, Janelle R. Bolden. Basal Transethmoidal Encephalocele and Malignant Hypertension in a Parturient with a Seizure Disorder: A Case Report. J Reprod Med 2015;60(1-2):55-7.
  • Kacmar, RM, Mhyre JM. Practices to Ensure Adequate Venous Access and Safe Drug Administration During Transfer to the Operating Room for Emergency Cesarean Delivery. APSF Newsletter Oct 2015;30(2):23-24,42-43.
  • Kacmar RM, Davidson BM, Victor M, Bullard K, Melendez J. Using an at-risk salary model to improve throughput in academic medical center operating rooms. J Clin Anesth. 2016 Nov;34:416-9. PubMed PMID: 27687425
  • Richardson S, Kacmar R, Hawkins J, Eltzschig HK, Kleck C, Burger E, Hodges J. Use of continuous fetal heart rate monitoring during discectomy at 24weeks of gestation. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2016 Feb;25:95-6. PubMed PMID: 26597410
  • Kacmar, RM, Editor. Contributions by Jill Mhyre, Heather Nixon, Edward McGonigal. SOAP Patient Safety Committee “How We Do It” Expert Opinion: Airway Equipment and Training. SOAP Newsletter 2015 Summer.
  • Kacmar, RM, Editor. Contributions by Paula Craigo, Grant Lynde, Jill Mhyre, Stephen Pratt. SOAP Patient Safety Committee “How We Do It” Expert Opinion: Institutional Preparation for the Obstetric Patient with Ebola. SOAP Newsletter 2015 Winter.
  • Kacmar, R. (2015). OB Lecture 1 Online 3 Physiologic Changes of Pregnancy. Anesthesia Education Toolbox. Published 06/30/15.
  • Fernandez-Bustamante A, Bartels K, Clavijo C, Scott BK, Kacmar R, Bullard K, Moss AFD, Henderson W, Juarez-Colunga E, Jameson L. Preoperatively Screened Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Worse Postoperative Outcomes Than Previously Diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Anesth Analg. 2017 Aug;125(2):593-602. PubMed PMID: 28682951
  • Kacmar RM. Safety interventions on the labor and delivery unit. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2017 Jun;30(3):287-293. PubMed PMID: 28323672
  • Papazian, J. Kacmar, R. (2017). PBLD 10 Management of Patient With Previous Back Surgery Anesthesia Education Toolbox: https://collectedmed.com/index.php/article/article/article_display/14/5736 Published 06/21/2017
  • Kacmar RM, Editor. Contributions by Ramon Abola, Unyime Ituk, Joanna Kountanis, Emily Sharpe. SOAP Patient Safety Committee “How We Do It” Expert Opinion: Quality Assurance on Labor and Delivery. SOAP Newsletter 2017 Summer.
  • MH - Help I'm on Fire; Poster session at Society for Education in Anesthesia Spring Meeting 2015. Brainard, A. Kacmar, R
  • Kacmar RM, Editor. Contributions by Jennifer Banayan, Jean Miles, Cristina Wood. SOAP Patient Safety Committee “How We Do It” Expert Opinion: Hemorrhage Carts: Improving Maternal Safety. SOAP Newsletter 2017 Spring.
  • Kacmar RM. Simplifying MOCA 2.0 Part 4 – How to Capitalize on Safety and Quality Activities on Labor and Delivery. SOAP Newsletter 2017 Winter.
  • Riveros-Perez E, Kacmar R. Peripartum Care of the Jehovah's Witness Patient. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Jun;60(2):394-404. PubMed PMID: 28121643
  • Kacmar RM, Gerber J. Maternal Early Warning Systems. ASA Monitor April 2019; 83:12-14.
  • Dan Drzymalski, Unyime Ituk, Sarah Hall, Rachel Kacmar. SOAP Patient Safety Committee “How We Do It” Expert Opinion: Isobaric Bupivacaine for Cesarean Delivery. SOAP Newsletter 2019 Winter
  • Tess McÇlung, Michaela Farber, Britany Raymond, Jill Mhyre, Rachel Kacmar. SOAP Patient Safety Committee “How We Do It” Expert Opinion: Utilization of the Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) Device. SOAP Newsletter 2019 Winter
  • Kacmar RM, Mhyre JM. The Continued Crisis of Maternal Mortality: Is Consolidation of Care the Answer?. Anesth Analg. 2020 Jan;130(1):49-51. PubMed PMID: 31842171
  • Simmons CG, Alvey NJ, Kaizer AM, Williamson K, Faruki AA, Kacmar RM, Jevtovic-Todorovic V, Weitzel NS. Benchmarking of Anesthesia and Surgical Control Times by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Codes. J Med Syst. 2022 Mar 4;46(4):19. PubMed PMID: 35244783
  • Kacmar RM. Commentary on:The Efficacy of High Flow Nasal Oxygenation for Maintaining Maternal Oxygenation During Rapid Sequence Induction in Pregnancy: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial. Obstetric Anesthesia Digest 2022;42(3):154-155.
  • Stahl D, Fragneto R, Mahoney B, Kacmar R. Levels of Maternal Care: The Anesthesiologist's Role in Reducing Maternal Mortality. ASA Monitor July 2022, Vol. 86, 34–35.
  • Ende H, Raymond B, and Kacmar R. Barriers to Point-of-Care Ultrasound Use in Obstetric Anesthesia: Results of a 2020 SOAP Patient Safety Committee Survey. SOAP Newsletter 2022; Fall: 7-8.
  • Blacker SN, Chen F, Winecoff D, Antonio BL, Arora H, Hierlmeier BJ, Kacmar RM, Passannante AN, Plunkett AR, Zvara D, Cobb B, Doyal A, Rosenkrans D, Brown KB Jr, Gonzalez MA, Hood C, Pham TT, Lele AV, Hall L, Ali A, Isaak RS. An Exploratory Analysis of ChatGPT Compared to Human Performance With the Anesthesiology Oral Board Examination: Initial Insights and Implications. Anesth Analg. 2024 Sep 13. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39269908
  • Nguyen TB, Weitzel N, Hogan C, Kacmar RM, Williamson KM, Pattee J, Jevtovic-Todorovic V, Simmons CG, Faruki AA. Comparing Anesthesia and Surgery Controlled Time for Primary Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Between an Academic Medical Center and a Community Hospital: Retrospective Cohort Study. JMIR Perioper Med. 2024 Feb 26;7:e45126. PubMed PMID: 38407957

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA), Member
  • Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP), Member
  • Society of Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), Member
  • Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA), Member
  • Alpha Omega Alpha, Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH)
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
  • Children's Hospital Colorado

Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Anesthesiology, Board Certification (2013)
Public Speaking
Yes