A Rising Anesthesiologist
When AJ Schramm, MD, was first introduced to anesthesiology by a mentor, he marveled at medicine’s ability to keep a patient comfortable during surgery—and wanted to devote his career to helping future patients and their families.
Dr. Schramm received a 2025 ACE Rising Star Award while he was a clinical fellow in the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship program at Columbia. He recently joined Columbia University as an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and is looking forward to a career of collaborating with surgical teams as they perform life-saving heart and lung operations.
Dr. Schramm discusses his training, his dedication to his field, and how he supports patients who feel anxious entering the operating room.
What inspired you to become a doctor, and what keeps you motivated today?
From a young age, I was drawn to the sciences. My mind was grasping at the vast and mysterious ways life works. When I lost my father when I was 12 years old, I quickly realized the fragility of life. I then idolized physicians for their knowledge and understanding of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology to combat disease and save lives. To me, doctors knew everything. As I have grown and practiced as a physician, I am motivated by what we do not know in medicine. A career as a physician is one of lifelong learning, challenging ourselves to be the best we can be for our patients. My dad was a teacher, and one of a physician's more exciting roles is teaching medicine. I am motivated by the curiosity of other learners, and I enjoy teaching skills and critical thinking in the operating room.
What made you choose your specialty?
In high school, I had an incredible anesthesiologist mentor, Dr. Mark Tinklepaugh, who introduced me to the field. While other students marveled at the surgeon's precision, I was fixated on the art of anesthesiology. I could not comprehend how a patient could be so still and comfortable and wake up afterward asking, "When are you going to start?" In anesthesiology, we are the ultimate patient advocate. When I rotated in cardiothoracic anesthesiology, I fell in love with the complexity of the cases and the involvement of the anesthesiologists at every stage: from placing arterial and central lines, initiating cardiopulmonary bypass and stopping the heart to fix a valve, to becoming certified in echocardiography to assess both the patient and the surgical repair in real-time. It's a team effort, and I felt a calling to be part of it all.
Can you share a meaningful patient or leadership experience shaping your approach to care?
I was honored to serve as a chief resident in the Department of Anesthesiology. This role allowed me to act as a bridge between trainees and faculty, advocating for changes to further our program's academic and clinical excellence in an evolving world. I learned invaluable lessons in leadership and mentorship that I will carry with me as I continue my career at Columbia.
What made you stay here at Columbia and join as faculty after your training?
It was an easy decision to stay. Columbia is a leader in the perioperative space, performing innovative surgeries that require high-quality anesthesia and critical care for our patients. The surgeons and anesthesiologists here are not only world-renowned and highly skilled but also incredible people who are wonderful to work with. I am honored to be a faculty member in the Department of Anesthesiology.
What would you like patients to know about the care you provide?
Having surgery—especially open heart or lung surgery—can be intimidating and frightening for many people. My colleagues and I are here to provide professional, compassionate care that always places our patients first. Our priority is our patients’ comfort and safety while undergoing anesthesia. I always ensure all of my patients' questions are answered. It is important to me to understand the patient experience and that the perioperative environment is new to many. I tell my patients: "There will be no surprises. We will walk you through everything and be with you the entire time."
What would you want potential students to know about your training here at Columbia?
The breadth and depth of medicine at CUIMC are unlike other institutions. Trainees will be challenged, but they will quickly realize that their growth as physicians is exponential. You become a fierce advocate for your patients while providing high-quality care. Our residents graduate with the knowledge and skill sets necessary to be experts in the field. Our graduates often find themselves in leadership positions at CUIMC and many other institutions across the globe. I could not be happier with my decision to train here at CUIMC.
What does the ACE Rising Star Award mean to you, and how do you hope to grow from here?
It is an honor to receive this award. The Academy of Clinical Excellence values dedication to evidence-based medicine and high-quality, compassionate care for our patients. I look up to all of the academy's faculty who have provided decades of service to the VP&S community. I have just started my career, but I hope to one day fill their shoes and continue to push the frontier of medicine at Columbia University.