PERSPECTIVE
Medical
Multitasker
By Cathy Lawhon
Medical Multitasker
By Cathy Lawhon
Dr. Shalini Shah says she’s at her best when busy. So it follows that the professor, vice chair of UCI Health’s Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care and director of pain services would add presidency of the multifaceted, 5,000-member Orange County Medical Association to her already full plate. Shah is the first UC Irvine physician to lead OCMA in its 135-year history.
“Orange County is among the top three physician-dense populations in California,” she says, “so the potential for UC Irvine’s community engagement is huge. We’ve increased that potential with the acquisition of the Tenet hospitals in Fountain Valley, Lakewood, Los Alamitos and Placentia.”
Shah earned a B.S. at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and completed medical school in 2007 at St. George’s University in Grenada. She came to UC Irvine in 2012 after finishing a residency in anesthesiology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a combined fellowship in adult and pediatric chronic pain at Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital of Boston – all affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Shah later obtained an Executive MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
Her groundbreaking research, featured in Time magazine, demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Botox in treating pediatric migraines. In 2022, she and colleagues established the first-ever U.S. guidelines for physicians on managing cannabis use in the perioperative period. The Wall Street Journal covered that breakthrough.
A native Californian, Shah lives in Irvine with her husband and two children. She recently talked about her achievements and new role at OCMA with UC Irvine Magazine contributor Cathy Lawhon.
What brought you to UC Irvine?
I wanted to return to California and build a private practice; interestingly, I wasn’t 100 percent sold on academics. But then the UCI chair of anesthesiology recruited me. I’ve found great professional fulfillment seeing patients, practicing healthcare for a system and doing research. Working with students, residents and fellows in a training environment allows me to grow. The Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care is one of the most sought-after residencies and fellowships in the nation, and our alumni hold leadership positions across the country.
How did your research on Botox for pediatric pain management come about?
When I started at UCI as a junior attending physician, I was referred a lot of children from CHOC – Children’s Hospital of Orange County – who were losing weeks and months of school to migraines. Pediatric migraine is called the $10 billion disease because of its economic and functional impact on children not getting a good education and, ultimately, not fulfilling their potential. At that time, pediatric migraine was largely treated with nerve medication or over-the- counter pain relievers, which were not so successful. We completed the first randomized control trial of Botox for pediatric migraine patients and changed the paradigm. It’s very rewarding to see this option now as a mainstream treatment and to see children living their full potential.
“Despite the high number of physicians in Orange County, we still have a significant shortage of physicians, nurses and other clinicians to serve our growing population.”
Can you talk about your recent work with cannabis?
I find it interesting that cannabis has almost achieved the status of a therapeutic without ever undergoing the rigor that goes into approving a medication by the FDA. Cannabis is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the federal government, which limits study of its implications or potential benefits. My colleagues and I formed a national coalition of researchers, clinicians and basic scientists studying cannabis to create the first set of guidelines in the U.S. to help anesthesiologists and surgeons manage cannabis use in the perioperative period. There had been little evidence to guide clinicians and patients about [the drug’s effect on] surgical outcomes. Should they cancel surgery? Alter the anesthesia? Give higher doses? The biggest impact of this work was to see the change in our operating rooms across the country. Patients and anesthesiologists are now having conversations about cannabis use and screening prior to surgery.
What are the goals of the Orange County Medical Association?
Over the last couple of months, I have been asked by colleagues: “Why should I join OCMA? What exactly does it do?” It occurred to me that we could better advertise the advocacy work we do – to improve the delivery of healthcare – to physicians, hospitals and patients. OCMA’s recent efforts have focused on increasing healthcare access, improving reimbursement models for physicians and ensuring that patients receive high-quality, affordable care. The California Medical Association, of which OCMA is a chapter, has also worked on legislation to address physician shortages, particularly in underserved areas. Through strong advocacy at the state level, CMA ensures that California remains a leader in healthcare policy and practice innovation.
As president, do you have personal goals for OCMA as well?
Yes. First and foremost is to advance a scholarship program for high school and college-bound students to open pathways to healthcare via a foundation model. Despite the high number of physicians in Orange County, we still have a significant shortage of physicians, nurses and other clinicians to serve our growing population. By highlighting these fields earlier, we can encourage students to consider jobs in healthcare – whether in nursing or as surgical and radiology technicians. This would be a great benefit to our local economy and health ecosphere. Secondly, OCMA must continue our work with the governor’s office to offer access to affordable healthcare in our county.
Do you have a philosophy that energizes you?
It’s the advice I give to all my residents – and to my children: The effort you put in today may not pay off immediately, but it will pay off at some point in your career. Continue to invest in yourself and in learning. Do what makes you happy, continue to expand and grow, be a good citizen to others, and everything will fall into place.
UC Irvine Magazine is produced by the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs.
To contact the editor, email ucimagazine@uci.edu.