Helga Komen, M.D., M.B.A.

Biography

Helga Komen, M.D., M.B.A., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She joins UT Southwestern from Washington University in St. Louis, where she spent more than 10 years in the Department of Anesthesiology and served as an anesthesia leader for the ENT and Neurosurgery operating rooms.

Dr. Komen earned her medical degree and completed her residency in anesthesiology in Rijeka, Croatia, before moving to the United States. Her clinical interests include ENT anesthesia, difficult airway management, anesthesia for spine surgery, and intraoperative pain management. Her academic and professional interests include long-acting opioids, low-flow anesthesia and sustainability, quality improvement, innovation, and the development of evidence-based approaches to perioperative care. At Washington University, Dr. Komen developed clinical protocols, organized educational workshops and weekly conferences, and led a sustainability initiative that generated substantial annual savings and was subsequently expanded across the BJC HealthCare system.

Dr. Komen has a strong commitment to medical education and has taught and mentored medical students, residents, CRNAs, and faculty. She is particularly interested in the intersection of clinical care, healthcare operations, and innovation. She holds an Executive M.B.A. from Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, Class of 2023, which broadened her expertise in healthcare management, organizational strategy, and leadership and strengthened her interest in applying business and management principles to complex clinical environments.

At UT Southwestern, Dr. Komen looks forward to contributing to clinical excellence, medical education, and the continued advancement of high-quality, efficient, and innovative perioperative care. Her interests include developing evidence-based clinical practices, improving perioperative systems and workflows, and identifying opportunities where clinical innovation and operational strategy can improve both patient care and healthcare delivery. She is particularly interested in collaborative initiatives that bring together clinicians, educators, and operational leaders to address challenges in modern academic medicine. Through her clinical, educational, and management experience, she hopes to contribute to the continued growth and innovation of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at UT Southwestern.