Dr. Juliana Kruthof, MD, MSc, FRCPC is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Staff Obstetric Anesthesiologist at BC Women’s Hospital. She serves as Associate Director of the Obstetric Anesthesia Fellowship, is the Clinical Lead for Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) within the Department of Obstetric Anesthesia at BC Women’s Hospital and is a Researcher with the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI).

She completed an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc), followed by a Master of Science (MSc) in Human Kinetics with a specialization in thermoregulation, and then earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the University of Ottawa. She subsequently completed her Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine residency at Western University, followed by an Obstetric Anesthesia Clinical Fellowship at UBC. She further strengthened her research training by completing a Certificate in Foundations of Clinical Research from Harvard University.

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A central theme of her research program is intraoperative pain during cesarean delivery, including patient experiences of sensory and pain-related phenomena under neuraxial anesthesia and strategies to better prevent, identify, and manage inadequate anesthesia in real time. She also has a strong interest in the innovation and implementation of POCUS, including gastric ultrasound applications that support individualized perioperative decision-making, alongside broader quality improvement and education initiatives in obstetric anesthesia.

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Publication Link(s)

Kruthof J, Samiee M, Collins, JPW. (2026). Neuraxial labor analgesia in a pregnant patient with leprosy: A case report. International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia. (In press).

Saulnier L, Chau A, Barrera J, Massey S. (2025). Influence of Planned Versus Unplanned Cesarean Delivery on Postpartum Peritraumatic Distress: A Prospective Observational Study. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. Sep 10;47(11):103114. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2025.103114. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40939978.

Barrera-Ramirez, J., Seligman, K.M. (2023). Commentary: Preparing for obstetric anesthesia- An educational Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing e-Learning to written course material. Obstetric Anesthesia Digest.

Barrera-Ramirez, J., Lavoie, J.S, et al. (2017). Micro-RNA profiling of exosomes from marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: implications in leukemogenesis. Brit J of Hema. 13(6) 817-825.

Barrera-Ramirez, J. & Franco, H. (2016). The effect of conflict and displacement on the health of internally displaced people: the Colombian crisis. Uni of Ottawa J of Med. Vol6(2):26-29.

Park, A., Barrera-Ramirez, J., Ranasinghe, I., et al. (2016). Use of statins to augment progenitor cell function in preclinical and clinical studies of regenerative therapy: a systematic review. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 12(3):327-39. doi: 10.1007/s12015-016-9647-7.

Paull, G., Dervis, S., Barrera-Ramirez, J., et al. (2016). The Effect of Plasma Osmolality and Baroreceptor Loading Status on Postexercise Heat Loss Responses. Am J Phys Reg Int Comp Phys. 310(6):R522-31.

Meade, R., Barrera-Ramirez, J., Paull, G., et al. (2015). The Influence of thermal factors on postexercise haemodynamics in trained and untrained men. The FAEB J. 29: 950.4.

McGinn, R., Carter, M.R., Barrera-Ramirez, J., et al. (2014). Does type 1 diabetes alter post-exercise thermoregulatory and cardiovascular function in young adults? Scand J Med Sci Sports. 25(5):e504-14.

Carter, M.R., McGinn, R., Barrera-Ramirez, J., et al. (2014). Impairments in local heat loss in type I diabetes during exercise in the heat. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 46(12):2224-33. 

Barrera-Ramirez, J., McGinn, R., Carter, M.R., et al. (2014). Osmoreceptors do not exhibit a sex-dependent modulation of forearm skin blood flow and sweating. Phys Rep. 2(2):e00226.

Barrera-Ramirez, J., & Kenny, G.P. (2013). The influence of sex on the osmoreceptor modulation of heat loss responses. Appl Phys Nutr Metab. 38(10):1023. 

Barrera-Ramirez, J., Bravi, A., Green, G., et al. (2013). Comparison of heart and respiratory rate variability measures using an intermittent incremental submaximal exercise model. Appl Nutr Met 38(11):1128-36.

Obstetric anesthesia for labor analgesia and cesarean delivery, including complex maternal comorbidity; Prevention and management of inadequate neuraxial anesthesia and intraoperative pain during cesarean delivery; POCUS-guided assessment and perioperative decision-making (including gastric ultrasound); Multidisciplinary perioperative care pathways and enhanced recovery principles in obstetrics.

• As Associate Director, Obstetric Anesthesia Fellowship, Dr. Kruthof, provides longitudinal mentorship and program leadership supporting fellows’ research development, professional growth, and transition to independent consultant practice.
• Dr. Kruthof is committed to departmental leadership for the integration of Point-of-Care Ultrasound into obstetric anesthesia practice, supporting practice standards, quality initiatives, and sustainable adoption across clinical teams.
• Dr. Kruthof is a Junior Editorial Fellow with the International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia (IJOA). She contributes to editorial workflows and peer-review processes while advancing rigorous research dissemination in obstetric anesthesia.

• Obstetric anesthesia teaching across training levels: Teaches and mentors medical students, residents, and fellows through clinical supervision, case-based teaching, and structured education with an emphasis patient-centered care.
• Point-of-Care Ultrasound education and faculty development: Develops and delivers hands-on ultrasound teaching for learners and faculty, including workshops and course instruction that build competency and confidence in bedside ultrasound applications relevant to obstetric anesthesia practice.
• Workshop instruction and simulation-based education: Leads and participates in national and international workshops focused on POCUS, and obstetric anesthesia emergencies.