Stephen Kowalski, MD, FRCP(C)

Research summary

Dr. Stephen Kowalski, MD, FRCP(C), focuses his research on perioperative outcomes and airway management in critical care. In the realm of perioperative outcomes, his studies examine the use of high spinal anesthesia in cardiac and liver resection surgeries, aiming to facilitate recovery and improve post-operative results. In critical care, his research investigates predictors of intubation success rates and their implications for long-term patient outcomes.

Research interests

• High spinal anesthesia in cardiac surgery
• High spinal anesthesia in liver resection surgery
• Airway management in critical care
• Predictors of first pass success rate with intubations in Critical Care
• Association of unsuccessful first pass intubation with long-term ICU outcomes
• Weaning strategies for long-term ventilated patients
• Use of speaking valves to facilitate liberation from mechanical ventilation

Research affiliations

Section of Critical Care Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba

Brief bio

Dr. Stephen Kowalski graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School in 1978 and completed his anesthesia residency training, along with critical care training, at the same institution in 1983. Following this, he spent two years as a research fellow in the Respiratory Investigation Unit at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. Subsequently, he received staff appointments in the Departments of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Manitoba.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kowalski has been actively involved in clinical anesthesiology, specializing in cardiac anesthesia and general clinical anesthesia. In critical care, he has primarily worked in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and served as the inaugural medical director of the Intermediate Intensive Care Unit. Despite holding various administrative roles, Dr. Kowalski has maintained a dedicated research focus on perioperative outcomes and their significance for patients.

Education

• Doctor of Medicine, University of Toronto (1978)
• Fellowship in Anesthesia, University of Toronto
• Critical Care Training, University of Toronto
• Research Fellowship, Respiratory Investigation Unit, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg