Biography:

 

Dr. Katherine Seligman is an obstetric anesthesiologist, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, and Associate Department Head and Quality and Safety Lead for the Department of Anesthesia at BC Women’s Hospital. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Mayo Clinic, completed residency in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, and pursued fellowship training in Obstetric Anesthesia at Stanford University.

Dr. Seligman’s research and quality improvement work focus on advancing safety, maternal mental health, and patient-centered care in obstetric anesthesia. She has published on ultrasound-guided neuraxial techniques, recovery after cesarean delivery, and alternative labor analgesia strategies. Her recent scholarship emphasizes psychological birth trauma, including the development of screening pathways and early interventions to identify and support at-risk patients.

In parallel, she is engaged in human factors research and the design, testing, and implementation of cognitive aids for obstetric emergencies, with the goal of improving crisis management and team performance. She also leads initiatives to develop patient education resources in preferred languages across diverse formats—including pamphlets, videos, and infographics—to ensure accessible, equitable, and culturally sensitive care.

As an educator and leader, Dr. Seligman contributes to training medical students, residents, and fellows, while fostering system-level improvements in quality and safety. Her work bridges innovation, research, and education to transform the care of birthing patients and families.