Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Professor
Primary Appointment:
Anesthesiology
Administrative Title:
Vice Chair
Email:
Location:
UMMC, S11C00
Phone (Primary):
(410) 328-0996
Biosketch
Mary J. Njoku, MD, FACP, FASA is currently Professor and Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Anesthesiology, the Endowed Matjasko Professor for Education in Anesthesiology since 2010 and the ACGME Designated Institutional Official for Graduate Medical Education for the University of Maryland Medical Center since 2012. She received a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas and Medical Degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. She completed Residency in Internal Medicine at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore from 1985 to 1988 followed by Residency in Anesthesiology from 1988 to 1992 and Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine, both at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Dr. Njoku joined the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology in 1992, served as the Anesthesiology Residency Program Director from 1995 to 2014, the Program Director for the Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine Fellowship from 1997 to 2000, and attending physician in Critical Care from 1992 to 2011. She participates in the American Board of Anesthesiology Examinations as a Question Writer, Editor and Oral Examiner since 1998.
Dr. Njoku's interests are graduate medical education, training, curriculum development and evaluation. She has been a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society since 1985 and has received a number of acknowledgements and awards for teaching, advising and clinical care. She is a member of the American Association of Medical College’s Group on Resident Affairs.
Dr. Njoku is the 2024 recipient of the Colin Mackenzie/Cristina Imle Mentoring Prize.
Highlighted Publications
Refereed:
- Fahy BG, Barnas G, Flowers JL, Nagle S, Njoku MJ: The Effects of Increased Abdominal Pressure on Lung and Chest Wall Mechanics during Laparoscopic Surgery. Anesthesia Analgesia, 1995; 81:744-750.
- Fahy B, Barnas G, Nagle S, Flowers J, Njoku MJ, Agarwal M. Changes in Lung and Chest Wall Properties with Abdominal Insufflation of Carbon Dioxide are Immediately Reversible. Anesthesia Analgesia, 1996; 82:501-505.
- Fahy BG, Barnas GM, Nagle SE, Flowers J, Njoku MJ, Agrawal M: Effects of Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg Postures on Lung and Chest Wall Mechanics. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, 1996; 8:236-244.
- Johnson LB, Plotkin JS, Howell CD, Njoku MJ, Kuo PC, Bartlett ST. Successful emergency transplantation of a liver allograft from a donor maintained on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Transplantation, 1997; 63(6):910-1.
- Johnson LB, Krebs T, Wong-Cheung J, Njoku MJ, Plotkin JS, et al.: Cryosurgical debulking of unresectable liver metastases for palliation of carcinoid syndrome. Surgery, 1997; 121(4):468-70.
- Johnson LB, Krebs TL, Van Echo D, Plotkin JS, Njoku MJ, et al; Cytoablative therapy with combined resection and cryosurgery for limited bilobar hepatic colorectal metastases; practical applications and patient selection. American Journal of Surgery, 1997; 174(6):610-613.
- Plotkin JS, Ridge LA, Kuo PC, Lim J, Njoku MJ, Johnson LB: Extending the boundaries of acceptable organ donors: a means of expanding the donor pool for liver transplantation. Transplantation Proceedings, 1997; 29(8):3288.
- Plotkin JS, Buell JF, Njoku MJ, et al.: Methemoglobinemia associated with dapsone treatment in solid organ transplant recipients: A two cases report and review. Liver Transplantation and Surgery, 1997; 3(2):149-52.
- Plotkin JS, Njoku MJ, Howell CD, Kuo PC, Bartlett SB, Johnson LB: The evolution of a successful liver transplant program in 1996: The clinical and administrative role of the anesthesiologist. Liver Transplantation and Surgery, 1997; 3(4): 468-70.
- Plotkin JS, Benitez RM, Kuo PC, Njoku MJ, Ridge LA, Lim JW, Howell CD, Laurin JM, Johnson, LB. Dobutamine stress echocardiography for preoperative cardiac risk stratification in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. Liver Transplantation and Surgery, 1998:4(4):253-257.
- Plotkin JS, Kuo PC, Rubin LJ, Gaines SG, Howell CD, Laurin J, Njoku MJ, Lim JW, Johnson LB: Successful use of chronic epoprostenol as a bridge to liver transplantation in severe portopulmonary hypertension. Transplantation, 1998; 65(4):457-459.
- Jones FD, Kuo PC, Johnson LB, Njoku MJ, Dixon-Ferguson M, Plotkin JS: The coexistence of portopulmonary hypertension and hepatopulmonary syndrome: Case Report. Anesthesiology, 1999; 90(2):626-629.
- Njoku MJ. PreOperative Patients with Chronic Endocrine Disease. Medical Clinics of North America. Nov 2013; 97(6):1123–1137.
- Yang S, Njoku, M, Mackenzie CF. ‘Big data’ Approaches to Trauma Outcome Prediction and Autonomous Resuscitation. British Journal of Hospital Medicine. Nov 2014. 75(11): 637 – 41.
- Njoku M, St Peter D, Mackenzie C. Haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers: indications and future applications. British Journal of Hospital Medicine. Feb 2015; 76(2): 78 – 83.
- Kenaa B, Ramadan L, Njoku M, Holden VK, Gulati M. A Leadership Pathway in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement for Trainees, ATS Scholar, Published Online Aug 2023.
Additional Publication Citations
Abstracts
- Popovich M, Njoku MJ, Higgins T, Marra A. Effects of pressure control inverse ratio ventilation on cardiac surgery patients. Anesthesiology. 77:A282, 1992
- Fahy BG, Njoku MJ, Gilbert T, Agrawal M, Barnas GM.: Chest wall mechanics after aortic aneurysm surgery. American College of Chest Physicians. Seventh Annual Symposium Cardiac Surgery: Current Issues. St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, November 1994. Proc of Seventh Annual Symposium, Cardiac Surgery, p. 27.
- Fahy B, Shin B, Agrawal M, Njoku MJ, Barnas G: Lung and chest wall properties in mechanically ventilated ICU patients. Critical Care Medicine. 23:A125, 1995.
- Njoku MJ, McGrath B, Christensen R, Delaney P, Mackenzie C: Biodistribution of red cells after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock using three different hemoglobin solutions. Anesthesiology. 83:A278, 1995.
- Fahy B, Barnas G, Flowers, Nagle S, Njoku MJ: Effects of increased abdominal pressure on lung and chest wall mechanics during laparoscopy. Anesthesiology 83:A1223, 1995.
- Fahy B, Barnas G, Nagle S, Flowers J, Njoku MJ: Effects of Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg postures on lung and chest wall mechanics. Anesthesiology 83:A1224, 1995.
- Fahy BG, Njoku MJ, Agrawal M, Barnas GM.: Lung and chest wall properties in mechanically ventilated patients. Society of Critical Care Medicine, 24th Educational and Scientific Symposium. San Francisco, January 1995. Critical Care Medicine 23(1):A125, 1995.
- Plotkin JS, Njoku MJ, Kuo PC, Ridge LA, Johnson LB: Octreotide infusion during orthotopic liver transplantation: Effects on blood loss, bowel congestion and need for venovenous bypass. The American Society of Transplant Surgeons Annual Meeting, Chicago, May 1995.
- Fahy BG, Barnas G, Flowers J, Nagle S, Njoku MJ, Agrawal M. Effects of increased abdominal pressure on lung and chest wall mechanics during laparoscopy. American Society of Anesthesiologist. Atlanta, October, 1995. Anesthesiology 83(3A):A1223.
- Fahy BG, Barnas G, Nagle S, Flowers S, Njoku MJ, Agrawal M: Effect of Trendelenburg and reverse postures on lung and chest wall mechanics. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Atlanta, October, 1995. Anesthesiology 83(3A):A1224.
- Kuo PC, Johnson LB, Plotkin JS, Njoku MJ, Howell CD, Bartlett ST, Rubin LJ: Chronic intravenous infusion of epoprostenol reverses portopulmonary hypertension. Hepatology 1996;24(4):A1210. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases annual meeting. Chicago, November 1996.
- Plotkin JS, Kuo PC, Benitez RM, Njoku MJ, Ridge LA, Howell CD, Bartlett ST, Coretti MC, Johnson LB: Dobutamine stress echocardiography for preoperative cardiac risk stratification in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. Hepatology 1996; 24(4):A699. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases annual meeting, Chicago, November 1996.
- Johnson LB, Kuo PC, Plotkin JS, Njoku MJ, Krebs T, et al.: Cytoablative therapy with combined resection and cryosurgery for limited bilobar hepatic colorectal metastases; Practical implications and patient selection. The Southwestern Surgical Conference, Rancho Mirage, California, April 1997.
- Johnson LB, Plotkin JS, Njoku MJ, Udekwu O, Kuo PC, Reduced transfusion requirements during major hepatic resection with use of intraoperative isovolemic hemodilution. The Southwestern Surgical Conference, San Antonio, May 1997.
- Plotkin JS, Ridge LA, Kuo PC, Lim J, Njoku MJ, Johnson LB: Extending the boundaries of acceptable organ donors: A means of expanding the donor pool for liver transplantation. Fourth International Society of Transplant Surgeons Annual Meeting, July 1997.
- Schreibman DL, Njoku MJ: Board Score Correlation—A Scoring System for Predicting Trainee Success on the Certifying Examination. ACGME Annual Education Conference, March 2007.
- Schreibman DL, Njoku MJ: Use of Formative Evaluations to Objectively Demonstrate Maturity and Growth during Training. Society for Education in Anesthesia 2007 Spring Annual Meeting, June 2007.
- Njoku MJ, Schreibman DL: Use of Clinical Competence Committee Recommendations for the Assessment of Outcomes for Practice Based Learning and Improvement. Society for Education in Anesthesia 2007 Spring Annual Meeting, June 2007.
- Schreibman DL, Njoku MJ: Validation of 13 Years of Resident Evaluations—Experience of the Clinical Competence Committee. Society for Education in Anesthesia 2007 Spring Annual Meeting, June 2007.
- Schreibman DL, Njoku MJ. 19 Years of Clinical Competence Committee Assessments - Meeting The Challenge Of The Next Accreditation System. Selected for Oral & Poster Presentation. ACGME Annual Educational Conference – New Horizons, Marvin R Dunn Poster Session, Orlando FL, February 28 – March 3, 2013.
- Mackenzie CF, Fitzgerald M, Mouzakis K, Kupper JF, Hagegeorge G, Hu P, Garofalo E, Njoku M, Shackelford S. Mobile Platform to Evaluate Individual Technical Skills. A1274. Poster Presentation, PO11-1. Section on History and Education: Challenges Present and Future. American Society of Anesthesiologists, New Orleans, LA, October 2014.
- Njoku M, Kenaa B, Gulati M, UMMC Pursuing Excellence Patient Safety Workgroup. Launching a Patient Safety Learning Collaborative in a Pandemic—Lessons Learned. Abstract & Poster at the ACGME Annual Educational Conference, Nashville, TN, February 23 – 25, 2023
- Kenaa B, Njoku M, Werzen A, Prasad N, Cheevers N, Reynolds N, Custer J, Gulati M. UMMC Pursuing Excellence Patient Safety Workgroup. Empowering House Staff Champions to Address Barriers to Event Reporting. Abstract & Poster at the ACGME Annual Educational Conference, Nashville, TN, February 23 – 25, 2023
- Gulati M, Cafeo C, Bentley S, Njoku M. A Sustainable Program for Integrating PSQI into Daily Work – Launched During a Pandemic, Abstract accepted for IHI Patient Safety Congress Abstract & Poster, National Harbor, MD, May 22 – 24, 2023
Research Interests
Trainee Assessment & Evaluation
Optimizing the Learning Environment
Clinical Specialty Details
Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Transplantation