The department is pleased to announce that Hari Kalagara, M.D., FCARCSI, EDRA, assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, has enthusiastically accepted the inaugural position of Director of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS).

Dr. Kalagara obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the NTR University of Health Sciences in Vijayawada, India, in 1999. He then completed postgraduate training in anesthesiology at King George Hospital in Vijayawada, India, in 2004, followed by senior house officer training at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, United Kingdom, between 2005 and 2007. From 2007 to 2009, he practiced as a registrar anesthetist (board certification comparable to American Board of Anesthesiology certification) at Wishaw General Hospital, followed by specialist registrar at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 2009 to 2012. Dr. Kalagara’s extensive training in Europe is exemplified by his becoming a fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Surgeons of Ireland (FCARCSI) and completing the European Diploma in Regional Anesthesia (EDRA) awarded by the European Society of Regional Anesthesia.  

In 2012, Dr. Kalagara immigrated to the United States and completed his anesthesiology residency training and regional anesthesia and acute pain fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic (2012-2017). His training and accomplishments have earned him board certification with the prestigious American Board of Anesthesiology and transesophageal echocardiography certification with the National Board of Echocardiography. Dr. Kalagara’s dedication to academic medicine was solidified by his decision to join the faculty of the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine in 2017.   

Dr. Kalagara has been the lead and senior author of many articles related to regional anesthesia, acute pain and POCUS. He has delivered numerous lectures and served as faculty in various local, national, and international meetings. He is an active member of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA), serving as the CME Liaison of the POCUS Special Interest Group (SIG) and the Social Media Liaison of the Green Anesthesia Special Interest Group.

We would like to welcome Dr. Kalagara to his role as the Director of the POCUS Program in our department. He will work closely with our cardiac, critical care, MSA, regional and acute pain faculty to spread the mission of clinical care, education and research of POCUS to all medical students, residents, fellows and faculty. We look forward to his collaborative leadership in this position. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kalagara in his new role as Director of the POCUS Program!