IARS 2024-2025 International Outreach Travel Grant Interview: Jonathan Matias Chejfec-Ciociano, MD

A Systems Approach for Analyzing Fatal Fungal Meningitis Outbreaks Linked to Neuraxial Anesthesia in Mexico

During his final year of medical school, Jonathan Matias Chejfec-Ciociano, MD, learned about a devastating fungal meningitis outbreak in Mexico and was motivated to uncover the underlying causes of the outbreak. The Federación Mexicana de Colegios de Anestesiología (FMCA) Patient Safety Taskforce invited him to investigate just that. Now a Research Associate at FMCA, Dr. Chejfec-Ciociano and FMCA’s research into this outbreak identified the immediate causes but also revealed broader systemic deficiencies in patient safety and risk management within anesthesia practice. The FCMA Patient Safety Taskforce is working to address and resolve these deficiencies. This research study has recently gained recognition when Dr. Chejfec-Ciociano was awarded the IARS 2024-2025 International Outreach Travel Grant. This initial investigation continues to expand today, identifying and mitigating patient safety risks associated with neuraxial anesthesia while fostering a shift in how medical errors are understood and addressed. Dr. Chejfec-Ciociano will be presenting his research, “A Systems Approach for Analyzing Fatal Fungal Meningitis Outbreaks Linked to Neuraxial Anesthesia in Mexico,” on Saturday, March 22, during Poster Session D at the 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by IARS and SOCCA. Below, he shares his research journey, the impact of this travel grant on his career and goals for the future of this initial study.

Abstract Presentation:

Poster Session D, Saturday, March 22, 2025, 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm HST, Coral 3, Hilton Hawaiian Village® Waikiki Beach Resort

1. For this research, I am…

Principal Investigator

2. What drew you to this area of research? Has it evolved since your initial research project?

I became involved in clinical research during my final years of medical school while working at a local hospital. Around that time, I learned about the devastating fungal meningitis outbreak in Mexico and was invited to join the Federación Mexicana de Colegios de Anestesiología (FMCA) Patient Safety Taskforce. Initially, our research focused on identifying the outbreak’s immediate causes. However, as we delved deeper, we uncovered broader systemic deficiencies in patient safety and risk management within anesthesia practice. This realization shifted our approach toward a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen prevention strategies across Mexico. Today, the FMCA Patient Safety Taskforce unites anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, administrators, researchers, and patient representatives to strengthen safety protocols and drive meaningful change.

3. What are the goals you most want to accomplish in your work with this research project?

Our primary goal is to identify and mitigate patient safety risks associated with neuraxial anesthesia while fostering a shift in how medical errors are understood and addressed. Instead of a blame-centered approach that holds frontline providers solely responsible, we advocate for a human factors-driven, systems-based perspective that examines the underlying factors contributing to adverse events. We aim to strengthen institutional protocols, enhance training, and promote a culture of transparency and continuous improvement in anesthesia care by integrating structured safety and accountable frameworks. Ultimately, our work seeks to build a more resilient healthcare system where patient safety is proactively prioritized.

4. What is the potential impact of your research on the field of anesthesia and patient care?

Our research has both a local and global impact. Locally, we aim to improve protocols and foster a stronger patient safety culture within anesthesia practices in Mexico. On a broader scale, we seek to document how fungal outbreaks like this are managed in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting systemic challenges and best practices. Additionally, we are working toward a national, multifocal response that addresses this crisis through evidence-based interventions, policy recommendations, and strengthened healthcare regulations. By integrating these approaches, we hope to drive meaningful changes in improving patient safety and anesthesia care.

5. How do you feel about receiving the IARS International Outreach Travel Grant?

I am truly honored and grateful to receive this grant, as it not only recognizes the importance of our research but also provides a valuable opportunity to share our findings with a global audience.

6. How will this grant affect your research and professional trajectory?

This grant offers an important opportunity to present our findings to an international audience. Engaging with experts in anesthesia and patient safety will help strengthen our research and contribute to ongoing discussions on improving clinical protocols. Professionally, it allows me to expand my knowledge, build collaborations, and further develop the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to research initiatives in anesthesia.

7. What are the benefits of presenting your research at the IARS Annual Meeting?

Presenting at the IARS Annual Meeting provides me an opportunity to share our team’s findings with international anesthesiologists and researchers, receive constructive feedback, and refine our work. It also allows us to engage with different perspectives, fostering discussions that can strengthen our research and broaden its impact.

8. Is there anyone else you wish to acknowledge as part of this research team?

I am grateful to my colleagues at the FMCA Patient Safety Taskforce for their dedication and collaboration throughout this project. I also appreciate the guidance of my many mentors on the taskforce including Drs. Adrian Gelb, André Van Zundert, Gerardo Prieto, Maryam Tabibzadeh and Paul Barach, whose insights and guidance have helped shape our research and inspired my deep commitment to anesthesia. The FMCA Safety Taskforce’s collective efforts have been essential in advancing this transformative work in Mexico and fostering a deeper understanding of the health system challenges we aim to address.

9. Outside of your research, what might someone be surprised to learn about you?

I picked up juggling through watching YouTube videos. It started as a casual challenge, but now I find myself sneaking in practice whenever I have three objects and a bit of space.