What We Do:
Ambulatory surgery or, outpatient surgery, describes surgeries in which patients can go home the same day after their surgery. More than 2/3 of surgeries in the US are performed in an outpatient setting and this volume continues to grow each year. Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) are specialized centers for outpatient surgery. Receiving surgical care as an outpatient has many advantages including the comfort of recovering in familiar surroundings, early post-operative mobilization, and reduced healthcare costs. As anesthetic and surgical techniques have improved over time, the patient population eligible for outpatient surgery has grown extensively. Even patients with multiple medical problems may be able to have their surgery done in an outpatient setting such as an ASC. Our division uses a multi-faceted approach to reviewing patients’ medical history, to ensure they are safe candidates for outpatient surgery.
At Johns Hopkins Medicine, we currently have multiple ASCs with our flagship site, the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center (JHOC). JHOC is conveniently located adjacent to the main hospital in East Baltimore, should a patient need hospital-based services. Greenspring Station Pavilion III in Lutherville, is our newest most cutting-edge facility and is the largest free-standing ASC in Maryland.
The Ambulatory Anesthesia Division supports many surgical specialties at our locations including orthopedics, plastics, gynecology, surgical oncology, otolaryngology, vascular surgery, urology, endocrine surgery, general surgery as well as cardiac electrophysiology and gastroenterology. Our division includes Anesthesia providers who are knowledgeable across fields, are adaptable, safe and efficient. We have a highly skilled group of physicians with a diverse collection of Anesthesiology training, including Pediatric anesthesia, Regional anesthesia, Pain medicine, private practice and academics. We work with core group of skilled nurse anesthetists with extensive cross-training.
The mission of the Ambulatory division is
- To provide high quality, safe, efficient and pleasant care for patients undergoing outpatient surgery and anesthesia
- To offer high quality education and training for Anesthesiology residents, emphasizing principles specific to outpatient surgery and efficiency
- To continually utilize data metrics to analyze and improve our practice and processes
Dr. Prasad Appointed Interim Division Chief for Ambulatory Anesthesiology
The Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine is pleased to announce that Dr. Rashmi Prasad has been appointed Interim Division Chief for Ambulatory Anesthesia in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Prasad completed her anesthesiology residency, followed by a fellowship in regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine from UW Madison. She has been a valued member of our department since 2014 and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. She also holds leadership roles as Anesthesia Medical Director at both the Howard County and Knoll North Ambulatory Surgery Centers, where she has led numerous initiatives to improve quality, efficiency, and patient experience.
Throughout her career, Dr. Prasad has demonstrated exceptional skill in building and advancing ambulatory and regional anesthesia programs. She was instrumental in developing the regional anesthesia program at the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center, creating innovative workflows that significantly improved recovery times and patient satisfaction. Her leadership helped establish high-value ambulatory service lines that have since been modeled across the Johns Hopkins Surgery Center Series and beyond.
Dr. Prasad’s commitment to collaboration, mentorship, and clinical excellence has earned her recognition within our institution, including the 2024 Excellence in Professionalism Award and the 2025 Johns Hopkins Medicine Clinical Award for Excellence in Service and Professionalism.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Sara Sateri for her outstanding leadership and service as Division Chief for Ambulatory Anesthesia since 2022. Under her direction, the division has continued to grow in scope and impact, strengthening its commitment to patient-centered care, operational excellence, and faculty engagement. We are deeply grateful for her contributions and her continued partnership as she continues her clinical and academic roles.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Prasad on this well-deserved appointment and in offering her your full support as she steps into this important leadership role.
Meet Our Division
Rashmi Prasad, MD
Interim Division Chief, Ambulatory Anesthesia
Robert Thomsen, MD
Executive Director of Ambulatory Services
Laura Elizabeth Wong Chin, MD, MPH
Giulia Sikorski, MD
Director of Ambulatory Anesthesia Education
Tracey Smith-Stierer, MD
Vice Chair, Quality, Safety, and Service