Professional Background
In January 2023, Dr. Walker assumed the role of chair of the Department of Anesthesiology after having served as Residency Program Director of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Anesthesiology since July 2011. As program director, he has been responsible for the training of 20 anesthesiology residents in a 4 year residency. He is board certified in anesthesia, critical care, and neurocritical care. In addition to his department administrative roles, he has also worked as an anesthesiologist in the anesthesiology group providing services at Ascension Via Christi St Francis Hospital (a tertiary care hospital) and at Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center. He has also works as an intensivist in both the Surgical ICU and Neuro ICU at Ascension Via Christi St Francis Hospital serving as medical director of both a 20-bed neurocritical care unit and an advanced comprehensive stroke center.
He serves as Chair of Ascension Via Christi Stroke Peer Review Committee and Stroke Advisory Committee. He also serves as the medical staff president. During his tenure as Medical Director of Neurocritical Care and Stroke, the Stroke Program has earned the American Stroke Association's Get With the Guidelines "Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll" award 2012-2014. In 2015, they earned the "Silver Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus" award. In 2016-2019, the program received the "Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus" award. In 2020, it earned the "Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Advanced Therapy" award. In 2021, they earned the "Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite" award. In 2022, the program earned the "Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus" award. In 2023, the program earned the "Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Advanced Therapy" award. In 2012, Healthgrades ranked Ascension Via Christi #1 in Kansas for Stroke, Neurosurgery, and Critical Care and named Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph hospitals to "Healthgrades America's 100 Best Hospitals" for stroke and critical care. Healthgrades also ranked Ascension Via Christi in the top 5% in the nation for Neurosciences, Stroke, Neurosurgery, and Critical Care. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, Ascension Via Christi Hospitals was named to Becker's 100 hospitals and health systems with great neurosurgery and spine programs. (2007-present). The U.S. News andamp; World Report named Ascension Via Christi St. Francis as a Best Regional Hospital for 2022-2023 in seven key areas including stroke.
- MD, Medicine, Univ. of Kansas-Medical Ctr., Kansas City, KS
- BGS, Human Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
- Clinical Fellowship, Neurocritical Care , University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati , OH
- Clinical Fellowship, Anesthesiology critical care, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
- Residency, Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati , OH
- Residency, Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
- Anesthesiology, American Board of Anesthesiology
- Critical Care Medicine, American Board of Anesthesiology
- Kansas State Medical License, Kansas Board of Healing Arts
- Nebraska State Medical License, State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
- Neurocritical Care Medicine, American Board of Anesthesiology
- Neurocritical Care, United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties
- Ohio State Medical License, State Medical Board of Ohio
