Susana Vacas, MD, PhD, is a Neuroanesthesiologist at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) She completed her postdoctoral work at the University of California San Francisco, where her research focused on the underlying mechanisms and risk factors of Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders. Incorporating her bench work with the advent of new and emerging technologies, Dr. Vacas seeks to improve patient outcomes after surgery by blocking and/or alleviating perioperative exacerbated inflammation and brain lesions. Her research studies focus on vulnerable surgical populations using MRI technology and extensive cognitive assessments. She is understanding the pathogenic mechanisms behind these devastating conditions and developing an assay for all prospective surgical patients. Dr. Vacas is the Neuroanesthesiology Fellowship Program Director at UCLA and takes great pride in teaching and mentoring residents, research fellows and medical students throughout the world.