Kristen Kelly Burton

Kristen Kelly Burton, MD, serves as Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania, practicing at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Her clinical expertise centers on complex anesthesia for transplant surgery and critical airway management.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
• Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Burton's research program focuses intensely on transplant anesthesia innovation, particularly for liver and uterine transplantation. She pioneers solutions for high-risk scenarios including portopulmonary hypertension in transplant candidates and intraoperative cardiac arrest. Her work integrates advanced monitoring techniques like combined somatic-cerebral oximetry to optimize physiological management during complex procedures. Current investigations address critical gaps in perioperative care standards for transplant recipients.

Analysis of her publication trajectory (2008-2024) reveals consistent specialization in transplant-related complications, with increasing focus on multicenter validation of risk factors and novel interventions. Her most recent work (2024) establishes new viability criteria for liver transplantation in challenging pulmonary hypertension cases.

As a clinical faculty member, Dr. Burton contributes to Penn Medicine's academic mission through active patient care, research leadership in transplant anesthesia, and likely participation in resident/fellow education. Her hospital privileges at two major academic centers facilitate comprehensive clinical research and specialized patient care.

Her laboratory infrastructure operates within Penn's Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, leveraging the institution's transplant program resources. While no standalone lab is documented, her research utilizes clinical data systems and multidisciplinary collaboration networks across Penn Medicine's transplant services.