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Sean T. Runnels

Sean T. Runnels, MD

Languages spoken: English
  • I am an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and CEO of Through The Cords LLC. My career is focused on improving access to safe airway management; where ever and whenever it is needed. I spent three continuous years in Africa providing care aboard the Africa Mercy surgical hospital ship and teaching anesthesiology as Faculty with the National University of Rwanda. The experience of managing airways and providing anesthesia in a wide variety of austere and challenging settings is the key driver behind my efforts to translate these unique experiences and research into real world value for patients, providers and health systems. I believe that my work designing and commercialization better intubation equipment is the essence of translational science. Via my company, I currently have three FDA registered devices in clinical use and several more in the pipeline. In addition to my commercial efforts, I am actively involved in clinical research and teaching in the airway management space. I am engaged in teaching, advising and board level global health efforts as well. Safe intubation is a critical bottle neck in the ability to accessing critical care and major surgery in all settings be they high resource or austere. Value is created by designing and commercializing medical devices and teaching systems that shorten training times and produce optimal outcomes in a wide variety of patients and settings. I believe that challenging and austere conditions provide the design pressures to create better equipment and real and value.

    Specialties

    • Anesthesiology

    Board Certification

    European Association of Echocardiography (Adult Transesophageal Echocardiography)
  • I am an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and CEO of Through The Cords LLC. My career is focused on improving access to safe airway management; where ever and whenever it is needed. I spent three continuous years in Africa providing care aboard the Africa Mercy surgical hospital ship and teaching anesthesiology as Faculty with the National University of Rwanda. The experience of managing airways and providing anesthesia in a wide variety of austere and challenging settings is the key driver behind my efforts to translate these unique experiences and research into real world value for patients, providers and health systems. I believe that my work designing and commercialization better intubation equipment is the essence of translational science. Via my company, I currently have three FDA registered devices in clinical use and several more in the pipeline. In addition to my commercial efforts, I am actively involved in clinical research and teaching in the airway management space. I am engaged in teaching, advising and board level global health efforts as well. Safe intubation is a critical bottle neck in the ability to accessing critical care and major surgery in all settings be they high resource or austere. Value is created by designing and commercializing medical devices and teaching systems that shorten training times and produce optimal outcomes in a wide variety of patients and settings. I believe that challenging and austere conditions provide the design pressures to create better equipment and real and value.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Anesthesiology -Primary
    Board Certification
    European Association of Echocardiography (Adult Transesophageal Echocardiography)

    Education history

    Fellowship Cardiac Anesthesiology - University of Cambridge Fellow
    Anesthesiology - University of Utah School of Medicine Resident
    Internship Surgery - Swedish Medical Center Intern
    Pathology - Oregon Health Sciences University Fellow
    Professional Medical Medicine - Oregon Health Sciences University Medical School M.D.
    Biology - Pacific Lutheran University B.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Ashka R Shah, Lauren E Knecht, Kathyrn M Durnford, Cameron Jacobson, Sean T Runnels (2023). Are combined techniques using video laryngoscopes and dynamic styles superior to fiberoptic techniques for anticipated difficult intubations? A retrospective single-centered comparative analysis. The Open Anesthesia Journal, 17.
    2. Runnels S, Pearson J, Samuels J, Panchamia R (2021). Runnels S, Pearson J, Samuels J, Panchamia R An Online Calculator to Better Understand the Impact of False-Negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction Test Results in the Context of Anesthesia Providers JMIR Perioper Med 2021;4(1):e26316 URL: https://periop.jmir.org/2021/1/e26316 DOI: 10.2196/26316. 4(1), e26316.
    3. Shah A, Durnford K, Knecht L, Jacobson C, Runnels ST (2021). A Consecutive Case Series of Rescue Intubations With the Articulating Total Control Introducer for Precision Tracheal Access. A A Pract, 15(3), e01418.
    4. Pollard J, Runnels S, Warrick C (2020). First Case Report of Intubation With a Total Control Introducer and a Hyperangulated Video Laryngoscope. A A Pract, 14(11), e01310.
    5. Chan DM, Wong R, RunnelsST, Muhizi E, McClain CD (Aug 2016). Factors Influencing the choice of anesthesia as a career by undergraduates of the University of Rwanda. Anesth Analg, 2(123), 481-7.
    6. Trinity JD, Barrett-OKeefe Z, Ives SJ, Morgan G, Rossman MJ, Donato AJ, Runnels S, Morgan DE, Gmelch BS, Bledsoe AD, Richardson RS, Wray DW (2015). Endogenous endothelin-1 and femoral artery shear rate: impact of age and implications for atherosclerosis. J Hypertens, 34(2), 266-73.
    7. Rossman MJ, Trinity JD, Garten RS, Ives SJ, Conklin JD, Barrett-OKeefe Z, Witman MA, Bledsoe AD, Morgan DE, Runnels S, Reese VR, Zhao J, Amann M, Wray DW, Richardson RS (2015). Oral antioxidants improve leg blood flow during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 309(5), H977-85.

    Book Chapter

    1. Sean Runnels, Jacob Pollard (2024). Video laryngoscope based intubation systems. In David Glick (Ed.), The Difficult Intubation (2). USA: Springer.

    Letter

    1. Runnels S, Ferranti D, Davis AN, Pollard J (2020). The Utah model: mental bandwidth and strategic risk generation in COVID-19 airway management. [Letter to the editor]. Anaesthesia, 75(7), 967-968.

    Abstract

    1. Hunter Perala MS 3, Loren Knecht, MD, Ashka Shah MD, Sean Runnels, MD (2021).  Self Reported Loss of Voice and Hoarseness at Post-Operative Day 1 in Outpatient Surgery Patients [Abstract].

    Patent

    1. Runnels ST (2018). Echange Catheter Aparatus. U.S. Patent No. Provisional patent filed 1/13/18. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
    2. Runnels, ST (2018). Articulating Stylet with Removable Handle. U.S. Patent No. Provisional Patent filed 1/12/18. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
    3. Sean T Runnels, Wil Roberge, Benjimin Fogg (2017). Articulating stylet. U.S. Patent No. 15789787. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
    4. Sean Runnels (2017). Stylet. U.S. Patent No. 29/601292. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
    5. Runnels, ST (2013). Directable Stylet for use with a Video Laryngoscope.
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