Bouska named interim chair of anesthesiology
Posted on October 21, 2026
To advance plans to establish an anesthesiology residency program, USA Health has named Gregory W. Bouska, M.D., MPA, interim chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. He has served as chief of anesthesia services at the academic health system since November 2022.
Developing an academic Department of Anesthesiology will strengthen the Whiddon College of Medicine’s missions in education, research and clinical care while creating new opportunities for medical students, residents and fellows.
The planned residency program is expected to support physician recruitment and retention and contribute to the growth of other surgical programs at USA Health.
“Although individual faculty within a particular clinical service line may engage in education and research, transforming the anesthesia service line into an academic department elevates the expectations to engage in meaningful education and research activities in alignment with our integrated academic health system,” said Jeffrey La Rochelle, M.D., MPH, dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine.
“More specifically, this provides the necessary home for a new residency training program in anesthesia, which not only has direct benefits to recruitment of academic faculty and retention of our own trainees, but also there are benefits to other surgical programs that allow further development and growth both clinically and educationally.”
La Rochelle said the new department will create educational and research opportunities across the continuum of medical training, from medical school through residency and fellowship. The residency program also will provide a pathway for the college to retain talented medical students interested in anesthesiology and attract faculty committed to educating the next generation of physicians.
Bouska brings extensive clinical and administrative experience to the position, including leadership in developing and managing anesthesiology programs. Prior to joining USA Health, Bouska served as chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Huntsville Hospital. He also served in the Air National Guard for 15 years before retiring in 2003.
“First and foremost, Dr. Bouska is an outstanding clinician focused on patient care, and this will provide the necessary role model for all current and future faculty in the new Anesthesia Department,” La Rochelle said. “Dr. Bouska also brings significant experience in developing and running anesthesia programs in the past at Huntsville, as well as a great deal of real time leadership experience from his 15 years of service in the Air National Guard.”
Bouska earned a Bachelor of Arts in pre-medical studies and a Master of Public Administration from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He earned his medical degree from the University of Washington and completed his anesthesiology residency at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
His appointment marks a key step in developing the academic department and expanding USA Health’s role in training future anesthesiologists while advancing clinical care and research.
