Anesthesiology

Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellow Profiles

Our 2026-27 Obstetric Anesthesia Fellow Physician:

  • Parisa Ziarati, MD, MPH
Parisa Ziarati, MD

Parisa Ziarati, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of Southern California
  • Graduate: Keck School of Medicine at USC
  • Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
  • Residency: USC
  • About Me: Dr. Ziarati enjoys caring for her collection of cacti and succulents, exploring hiking trails, and spending time on arts and crafts projects.
  • Why I Chose UCLA: I chose UCLA for fellowship because of its strong reputation in high-risk obstetric care and commitment to delivering an exceptionally high standard of patient care. UCLA provides me the opportunity to train in a tertiary care center with a diverse and medically complex patient population. I am excited to learn from the outstanding anesthesiologists and multidisciplinary teams who are leaders in their fields and dedicated to both clinical excellence and education.

Our 2023-2024 Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellow Physician:

Headshot of DAPM Fellow Christopher Lee, MD

Christopher Lee, MD 

Hometown: Oakton, VA
Undergraduate: Villanova University
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Residency: Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University Hospital, 2024
Why I chose UCLA: Having lived on the east coast my entire life, it was time to venture west for a new adventure. My wife a native SoCal-er always mentioned California's superior weather, nature, and food scene; and thus far, she isn't incorrect. In regards to UCLA, the mentorship and camaraderie of the OB anesthesia department really stood out from day 1 and continues to stand out to this day. Getting the opportunity to further my education and training at UCLA has been a true pleasure, and I couldn't be happier with where I am!
 
In his free time, Dr. Chris Lee enjoys rooting for his subpar Washington DC sports teams, watching Christmas movies, and all things Pokemon!

Our 2023-2024 Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellow Physician:

2023-2024 OB Anesthesia Fellow, Brittany Burton, MD performs ultrasound
Brittany Burton, MD performs ultrasound.

Brittany Burton, MD 

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate: UCLA
Graduate: Johns Hopkins
Medical School: UCSD
Residency: UCLA
Why I chose UCLA: I chose UCLA for the maternal case complexity, research opportunities, supportive learning environment, and research and clinical mentorship.
Research interests: Maternal peripartum outcomes, maternal health disparities, and perioperative outcomes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Burton+BN&sort=date
 
Dr. Burton is a culinary enthusiast and enjoys the diverse Los Angeles food scene.

Our 2020-2021 Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellow Physician:

Dr. Cascia and family in Zion, UT
Dr. Cascia and family in Zion, UT

Krista Cascia, MD 

Hometown: Manhattan Beach, CA
Undergraduate: Georgetown University, BS Foreign Service, International Economics with Concentration in International Finance and Commerce; University of Southern California, Premedical Post-Baccalaureate Program
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science  
Residency: Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Why I chose UCLA: Over 4 years of residency, UCLA really became my second family. There is wonderful comradery amongst the residents/fellows and the attending faculty are amazing teachers and mentors. UCLA gave me the opportunity to subspecialize in what I love AND support me as I transition to attending in the main OR. Why wouldn't I stay?

Dr. Krista Cascia’s lifetime goal is to visit all the US National Parks, as she finds great joy in camping and hiking. A notable accomplishment is her successful completion of the challenging hike to Half Dome at Yosemite! Dr. Cascia is married to Andrew Hardison and has a daughter, Johanna. She loves coffee and fancy cocktails, enjoys hiking, camping, and relaxing at the beach, is working at developing a garden, and is interested in health and fitness.