Fellowship Program Leadership

Leadership

Amod Sawardekar, MD, MBA
Program Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program
Associate Division Chief, Anesthesiology

Amod Sawardekar, MD, MBA, serves as the Inaugural Program Director of the Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program at Phoenix Children's, as well as director of Perioperative Services and associate division chief of Anesthesiology at Phoenix Children's. The opportunity to be part of a team of healthcare providers dedicated to improving healthcare for all children led Dr. Sawardekar to Phoenix Children's. He provides leadership across clinical and administrative efforts within the Division of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Services.

After earning a medical degree at the Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Dr. Sawardekar completed an internship and anesthesiology residency at Rush University Medical Center. In addition, he completed a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Children's Memorial Hospital/Northwestern University and a master's in business administration from the University of Tennessee.

Dr. Sawardekar is board certified in anesthesiology and pediatric anesthesiology from the American Board of Anesthesiology. He is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society, and the American Society of Regional Anesthesia.

Dr. Sawardekar has a special interest in the areas of acute pain management, regional anesthesia, and airway management in children. He continues to participate in clinical and research endeavors in these areas of pediatric anesthesiology. Contributing to his field, Dr. Sawardekar has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles. He's also presented at many professional workshops and conferences.

Dr. Sawardekar believes in working with families and patients to reach the best outcome.

 

Christina Kendrick, MD
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program

Christina Kendrick, MD, is an anesthesiologist specializing in pediatrics. In addition to her role as an anesthesiologist, Dr. Kendrick worked with nursing and administration to oversee operating room management. Dr. Kendrick also serves as a board examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiologists.

After years in private practice, the opportunity to help teach the next generation of physicians drew Dr. Kendrick to Phoenix Children's. When Dr. Kendrick was in high school, her mother became ill and required specialized care. Talking with her mother's medical team and seeing how they came together to care for her inspired Dr. Kendrick to go into medicine. As a first-generation college student, she attributes her success in reaching her goal of going to medical school to hard work and support from mentors.

Dr. Kendrick earned her medical degree at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. She completed a surgical internship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and her anesthesiology residency at the University of Arizona. Dr. Kendrick then completed a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. She's board-certified in anesthesiology and pediatric anesthesiology.

 

Michelle S. Kim, MD
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program
Director Education in Pediatric Anesthesiology
Clinical Professor, Department of Child Health and Anesthesiology

Michelle Kim, MD, has distinguished herself as an esteemed figure in the field of anesthesiology with a specialized focus on pediatric anesthesiology. A graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Dr. Kim completed her residency in anesthesiology at the same institution, followed by a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at the Children’s National Medical Center. Her career spans over two decades of dedicated service, including roles at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and currently at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she contributes her expertise in the Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Kim's academic journey has been marked by several prestigious appointments, evolving from Assistant to Associate and eventually to Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Kim has been instrumental in shaping future medical professionals through her roles in medical education and administration. She has directed educational programs, developed curricula, and served on numerous committees aimed at improving medical student education, quality improvement, and residency training programs. Dr. Kim’s commitment to excellence in teaching was recognized through awards for clinical education and clerkship, marking her as a venerated educator who has made significant contributions to the medical community. Her scholarly work includes publications on pediatric anesthesia and contributions to anesthesia textbooks, demonstrating her commitment to advancing medical knowledge and practice. Dr. Kim's career is a testament to her dedication to the field of anesthesiology, medical education, and the advancement of pediatric care.

 

Raj Neil D. Singhal, MD
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program
Vice Chief, Pain Medicine
Director, Pain Management

Raj Neil D. Singhal, MD, is a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist. He serves as vice chief of Pain Medicine and research director of Pain Management at Phoenix Children's. He is also a member of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

Dr. Singhal enjoys the interdisciplinary approach to pain management offered at Phoenix Children's. He is able to assist with pediatric pain management across many disciplines and can perform interventions for pain management in the clinic and operating room.

After earning his medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Dr. Singhal completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas where he was appointed chief resident. He went on to complete a fellowship (serving as chief fellow) that focused on pediatric regional and cardiac anesthesiology at Children's Hospital of Colorado in Denver.

Dr. Singhal is committed to furthering the field of pediatric anesthesiology and pain management. He has conducted extensive research and has shared his findings in a multitude of publications. Dr. Singhal also teaches medical students and has received the Teacher of the Year Award from both the University of Arizona and the Mayo Clinic.

 

David Wallace, MD
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program

David Warner Wallace, MD, is a pediatric anesthesiologist. Devoted to the care of children in need, Dr. Wallace joined the Phoenix Children's team in 2022. Each day, he's inspired by the patients he meets. He considers it an honor to be involved with their care and to have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of children in the Phoenix community.

Dr. Wallace earned his medical degree from Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC). He completed his anesthesiology residency at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he served as chief resident. Following his residency, Dr. Wallace completed a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. He is certified through the American Board of Anesthesiology.