The 2026 Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society (CAS) Annual Meeting was held from June 5-7, 2026, bringing together anesthesia professionals from across the country to share knowledge, research, and innovations in patient care.

We are proud to recognize the following faculty members from the UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics who contributed to the meeting as invited speakers, panelists, and presenters.

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Research in Focus shines a light on the innovative studies and discoveries taking shape across the UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Through each feature, we celebrate the minds driving meaningful change in research, education, and clinical practice across anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics.   

With a focus on understanding and responding to maternal needs throughout labour and cesarean delivery, Dr. Juliana Kruthof’s research advances patient-centred approaches to obstetric anesthesia through innovations in clinical decision-making, education, and patient experience.

For Dr. Juliana Kruthof, improving obstetric anesthesia begins with understanding the patient experience. Her research focuses on how clinicians can better understand and respond to maternal needs before, during, and after labour and cesarean delivery, with the goal of making care safer, more effective, and more patient-centred.

Her work centres around three interconnected areas: the patient’s intraoperative experience, the use of AI to support clinical decision-making and education, and the application of point-of-care ultrasound to guide bedside decision-making. Across these areas, a common theme shapes her research: high quality care is about more than technical success. It also involves patient comfort, clear communication, psychological safety, and a positive recovery experience.

This perspective is reflected in her current projects, including the PIONEER Trial, which explores patients’ sensory experiences during cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia, as well as examining patient expectations, communication around labour analgesia, POCUS education, and the use of AI to support resident learning. Together, these projects aim to improve both the delivery and experience of obstetric anesthesia care.

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“My work brings together clinical outcomes, patient experiences, medical education, implementation science, and technology-supported decision-making to better understand and improve care for pregnant patients.”

— Dr. Juliana Kruthof, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC 

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Meet Dr. Juliana Kruthof! 

Site: BC Women’s Hospital

Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor

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What impact do you hope this work will have on clinical practice, education, or society in general?

I hope my work will help obstetric anesthesia care better reflect what matters most to patients, including comfort, safety, understanding, autonomy, and recovery. By studying intraoperative sensation from the patient’s perspective, I aim to support the development of patient-reported outcome measures, improve communication, and identify practical interventions that help clinicians respond more effectively during cesarean delivery. My work in point-of-care ultrasound focuses on improving bedside decision-making and preparedness in high-risk maternal care, while my AI-focused projects explore how technology can support education, clinical reasoning, and quality improvement without replacing the importance of clinician judgment. Ultimately, I hope these efforts contribute to improved maternal safety, reduced patient distress, stronger informed consent processes, and more responsive, patient-centred care for pregnant patients.

How does this project fit into your broader research interests or goals?

This project is part of my broader goal of building a patient-centred, evidence-informed obstetric anesthesia research program. My work brings together clinical outcomes, patient experiences, medical education, implementation science, and technology-supported decision-making to better understand and improve care for pregnant patients. Through the PIONEER Trial and related qualitative studies, I am exploring intraoperative sensation and maternal expectations during cesarean delivery, while my research in point-of-care ultrasound and artificial intelligence focuses on developing practical tools to support bedside care and trainee learning. As Director of the BC Women’s Hospital Graduate Studies Program and a mentor to residents, medical students, and graduate trainees, I am also committed to fostering the next generation of clinician-scientists and strengthening the foundation for future obstetric anesthesia research.

What’s been the most rewarding moment in your research journey so far?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my research journey has been seeing an early-career research program grow into a collaborative platform that supports patients, trainees, and colleagues. Along the way, I have been fortunate to receive recognition for this work, including a Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Research Grant for the PIONEER Trial, SOAP 2026 Best Paper recognition, Best Abstract Poster at the 16th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit, and the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Best Abstract in Obstetric Anesthesia Award. Equally meaningful has been celebrating the achievements of the students and trainees I mentor, including recipients of UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program awards in 2025 and 2026. Together, these milestones reflect the growth of a research program that is collaborative, clinically relevant, and focused on improving care for patients and families.

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