UNC Anesthesiology is pleased to announce Lindsey N. Gouker MD, MHA, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, as the new Medical Director for PreCare, effective June 1st, 2024. Dr. Gouker takes over as the department’s pre-procedure anesthesia care lead during a period of significant transition and growth at UNC Medical Center. Procedural cases at the 375,000-square-foot, seven-story North Carolina Surgical Hospital are slated to begin mid-summer, on the heels of the state-of-the-art facility’s spring 2024 opening.

As UNC Medical Center’s surgical caseload expands rapidly starting mid-summer, Dr. Gouker will be building upon improvements to pre-procedure preparation, optimization, and evaluation services developed by her predecessor in this position, Dr. Vishal Dhanda. Drs. Gouker and Dhanda both completed their Master in Healthcare Administration (MHA) through the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health during their respective residencies at UNC. Dr. Gouker was previously the Medical Director of anesthesiology at Chatham Hospital. The experience gained during her two-year tenure as the Medical Director in Chatham Hospital, combined with her training and education, make Dr. Gouker an ideal candidate to continue the forward momentum the PreCare clinic has made over the last few years under the direction of Dr. Dhanda.

Dr. Gouker noted: “I am excited to serve the people of North Carolina in my new role as the Medical Director of PreCare.  As UNC Health continues to expand its procedural services with the opening of the Surgical Hospital and the North Chapel Hill Surgical Center, pre-procedure optimization and education will play a more critical role in both maintaining patient safety and contributing to a positive patient experience. The PreCare clinic will have a demand it has never seen before, but I know we are up for the task!”