The Duke Advanced Airway Program in the Department of Anesthesiology offers a multidisciplinary comprehensive training course in advanced airway management to attending physicians, residents, and fellows of anesthesiology, ENT, critical care, and emergency medicine.

Course Highlights

  • Evidence-based lecture series
  • Difficult airway workshops
  • Surgical cricothyrotomy
  • Airway ultrasound
  • Case-based discussions
  • High-flow nasal oxygenation

Target Audience

Anesthesiologists, critical care physicians, emergency medicine physicians, residents and fellows of anesthesiology, critical medicine, otorhinolaryngology, and emergency medicine.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

  1. Develop appropriate airway management strategies based on detailed physical examination, airway evaluation, radiological studies and preoperative nasal airway examination.
  2. Recognize signs of difficult airway and devise appropriate airway management strategy in the unanticipated difficult airway.
  3. Describe the techniques to adequately topicalize the airway and perform safe awake tracheal intubation in patients with difficult airway.
  4. Describe the techniques used for achieving lung isolation with double lumen tubes and bronchial blockers.
  5. Develop appropriate plans to manage patients with anticipated difficult extubation.

What is Included

  1. Certificate of completion
  2. Breakfast and lunch for both days 
Various participants at the Duke Advanced Airway Course

Meet the Team

Chakib Ayoub

Chakib Ayoub

Professor of Anesthesiology
Kathleen Marie Claus

Kathleen Marie Claus

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Alissa Collins, MD

Alissa Michelle Collins

Assistant Professor of Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences
Jennifer Estrella Dominguez

Jennifer Estrella Dominguez

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Sarada Eleswarpu

Sarada Eleswarpu

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Jeffrey Charles Gadsden

Jeffrey Charles Gadsden

Professor of Anesthesiology
Ryan Morris Gessouroun

Ryan Morris Gessouroun

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Nicole Renee Guinn

Nicole Renee Guinn

Professor of Anesthesiology
James Taylor Herbert

James Taylor Herbert

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Negmeldeen Mamoun

Negmeldeen Mamoun

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Vijay Kumar Ramaiah

Vijay Kumar Ramaiah

Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Annemarie Thompson

Annemarie Thompson

Professor of Anesthesiology
Miriam Treggiari

Miriam Treggiari

Paul G. Barash Distinguished Professor of Anesthesiology
Various participants at the Duke Advanced Airway Course

Agenda

This is a preliminary agenda and subject to change.

April 17, 2026 | Duke North 2001

Time Topic Speaker
4:30-5:00 pm Welcome and Introduction to Advanced Airway Course Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
5:00-5:30 pm Advances in Airway Examination Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
5:30-6:00 pm Mediastinal Mass and Airway Challenges Annemarie Thompson, MD
6:00-6:30 pm Airway Management: Surgical Airway as the Primary Approach Alissa Collins, MD
6:30-7:00 pm Airway Challenges in the Parturient Jennifer Dominguez MD
7:00-7:30 pm Break  
7:30-8:00 pm Pro vs Con
Awake Intubation: Nerve Block vs Topicalization		 Airway Nerve Block: Jeffrey Gadsden, MD, FRCPC, FANZCA
Airway Topicalization: Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
8:00-8:30 pm Pro vs Con
Ketamine vs Etomidate for ICU Intubations		 Pro: Taylor Herbert, MD, PhD
Con: Kathleen Claus, MD
8:30-9:40 pm Resident’s Corner: Case Based Discussion
1. Case 1 - Theresa Rizk, MD
2. Case 2 - Kierstyn Sandwell, DO
3. Case 3 - Khalil Issa, MD
4. Case 4 - TBA		 Moderator: Ryan Gessouroun, MD

April 18, 2026 | Duke SIM Center

Time Topic Speaker
9:00 am-12:00 pm Airway Workshop Sessions  
  Station 1: Supraglottic Airway for Rescue Nicole Guinn, MD, MBA
Ryan Gessouroun, MD
  Station 2: Video Laryngoscopes and Airway Exchange Catheters Taylor Herbert, MD, PhD
  Station 3: Flexible Scope Intubation Miriam Treggiari, MD, PhD, MPH
Kathleen Claus, MD
  Station 4: Surgical Cricothyroidotomy Alissa Collins, MD
  Station 5: Airway Ultrasound Sarada Eleswarpu, MD
  Station 6: One Lung Ventilation Negmeldeen Mamoun, MD, PhD
  Station 7: Retrograde Intubation Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
12:00-12:30 pm Conclusion and Adjourn Chakib M. Ayoub MD, MBA
Various participants at the Duke Advanced Airway Course

Disclaimer

  • The information provided at this educational activity is for continuing medical education purposes only. It is meant for the sole use of persons intending to enhance their knowledge and understanding of advanced airway management and is NOT meant to substitute the independent medical judgment of a physician relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
  • Every effort has been made in supplying information that is accurate and current. However, the Department of Anesthesiology at Duke University Medical Center does not accept responsibility for errors or omissions and accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising.
Various participants at the Duke Advanced Airway Course

Previous Duke Advanced Airway Course Agendas

Duke Advanced Airway Course 2025
April 25 and April 26, 2025

Friday April 25, 2025
Location: DN2001

4:30-5:00 pm Welcome and Introduction to Advanced Airway Course Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
5:00-5:30 pm Duke Advanced Airway Lecture: Management of Traumatic Airway Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
5:30-6:00 pm Airway Management: Surgical Airway as the Primary Approach Alissa Collins, MD
6:00-6:30 pm Dinner Break  
6:30-7:00 pm Pediatric Airway Warwick A. Ames, MBBS, MD
7:00-7:30 pm Video Laryngoscopy Should be Standard of Care: Pro vs Con Pro: Taylor Herbert, MD, PhD
Con: Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
7:30-8:00 pm Awake Intubation: Nerve Block vs Topicalization Airway Nerve Block: Jeffrey Gadsden, MD, FRCPC, FANZCA
Airway Topicalization: Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
8:00- 9:00 pm Resident’s Corner: Case Based Discussion
Case 1: Haley Amenson, MD
Case 2: Marc Ghabach, MD
Case 3: Anne Walker, MD
Case 4: Robert Chu, MD		 Moderator: Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
9:00- 9:30 pm Conclusion Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA

Saturday, April 26, 2025
Location: Duke SIM Center 

9:00 am -12:00 pm Airway Workshops Session I  
Station 1 Supraglottic Airway for Rescue Nicole Guinn, MD
Station 2 Video Laryngoscopes and Airway Exchange Catheters Taylor Herbert, MD, PhD
Station 3 Jet Ventilation Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
Station 4 Flexible Scope Intubation Miriam Treggiari, MD, PhD, MPH
Kathleen Clauss, MD
Station 5 Surgical Cricothyroidotomy Alissa Collins, MD
Yuriy S. Bronshteyn, MD
Station 6 Airway Ultrasound Sarada Eleswarapu, MD
Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
Station 7 One Lung Ventilation Negmeldeen F. Mamoun, MD
Station 8 Retrograde Intubation Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
12:00-12:30 pm Conclusion & Adjourn Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA

Duke Advanced Airway Course 2024
April 20 and May 4 2024

7:45-8:00 am Welcome and Introduction Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
8:00-11:00 am Airway Lecture Series  
8:00-8:30 am Preoxygenation and Physics in Airway Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
8:30-9:00 am Airway Ultrasound: Dispelling the myth Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
9:10-9:30 am Pediatric Airway Warwick A. Ames, MBBS
9:30-9:50 am Airway Management in the ICU Taylor Herbert, MD
9:50-10:10 am Morning Break  
10:10-10:30 am Surgical Airway as Primary Approach Alissa Collins, MD
10:30-11:00 am Case-Based Interactive Discussion Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
11:00-12:00 am Lunch Break / Meet the Faculty  
12:00 pm-1:30 pm Airway Workshops Session I  
  Station 1: Video Laryngoscopes Taylor Herbert, MD & Kerri Wahl, MD
  Station 2: Airway Blocks and Topicalization Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
  Station 3: Flexible scope Intubation Kathleen Claus, MD & Nicole Guinn, MD
  Station 4: Pediatric Airway Warwick A. Ames, MBBS
  Station 5: Surgical Airway Alissa Collins, MBBS, MD 
2:00-3:30 pm Airway Workshops Session II  
  Station 6: One Lung Ventilation Negmeldeen F. Mamoun, MD
  Station 7: Supraglottic Airway as a Conduit for Intubation Nicole Guinn, MD & Kathleen Claus, MD
  Station 8: Airway Exchange Catheters Taylor Herbert, MD
  Station 9: Airway Ultrasound Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
  Station 10: Retrograde Intubation Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
3:30-4:00 pm Conclusion Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
4:00 pm Adjourn  

Duke Advanced Airway Course 2023
March 18, 2023 and April 29, 2023

7:45-8:00 am Welcome and Introduction Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
8:00-11:00 am Airway Lecture Series  
8:00-8:30 am Advanced Airway Assessment Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
8:30-9:00 am Innovation in Airway Management Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
9:00-9:30 am Supraglottic Airway Bret W. Stop, MD, PhD
9:30-9:40 am Break  
9:40-10:00 am Surgical Airway Alissa Collins, MD
10.00-10.20 am Lung Isolation Negmeldeen F. Mamoun, MD
10:20-10:30 am Break  
10:30- 11:00 am Case Based Discussion Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
11:00-11:30 pm Lunch Break  
11:30 am -1:00 pm Airway Workshops Session 1  
  Station 1: Video Laryngoscopy Bret W. Stop, MD, PhD
  Station 2: Flexible Scope Intubation Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
  Station 3: Intubating LMA and Supraglottic Airway as Conduit for Intubation Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
  Station 4: Lung Isolation and One Lung Ventilation Negmeldeen F. Mamoun, MD
  Station 5: Surgical Cricothyrotomy Swine Trachea Alissa Collins, MD
1:00-1:30 pm Break  
1:00-2:30 pm Airway Workshops Session 2  
  Station 6: Airway Exchange Catheters Negmeldeen F. Mamoun, MD
  Station 7: Retrograde Intubation Bret W. Stop, MD, PhD
  Station 8: Airway Ultrasound Vijay K. Ramaiah, MBBS, MD
  Station 9: Airway Blocks and Topicalization Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
2:30- 3:00 pm Conclusion Chakib M. Ayoub, MD, MBA
3:00 pm Adjourn