Dr. Anna Bowling, an accomplished anesthesiologist in California and a certified life coach, has been passionate about medicine from a young age. Her inspiration came when her best friend’s mother underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, leaving her in awe of the life-saving capabilities of the medical team.
“They saved her life and gave the family their loved one back,” Dr. Bowling recounted in a recent interview. “Medicine became my calling. I wanted to help the sickest patients and be a pillar of strength on someone’s darkest days. As anesthesiologists, we have the incredibly rewarding and meaningful task of keeping patients safe through surgery to return them to their loved ones and toward a path of healing.”
Dr. Anna Bowling’s Background and Career
Dr. Anna Bowling graduated magna cum laude from East Carolina University with degrees in biology and chemistry. She then attended The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, followed by a residency in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care at the University of California at Irvine Medical Center.
She continued her journey at UC Irvine as a clinical instructor and fellow in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine.
Dr. Anna Bowling has served as an attending physician at medical facilities throughout southern California, where she feels grateful and inspired by her patients.
“I am passionate about making surgery as easy as possible for patients,” Dr. Bowling explained. “I chose to do a fellowship in regional anesthesia because it helps achieve this aim.”
A Life Coach and Life Calling
In the summer of 2023, Dr. Anna Bowling reached a new milestone by earning her life coaching certification. This achievement began a new journey, allowing her to extend her passion for helping others beyond the clinical realm.
Drawing from her experiences of perseverance and overcoming obstacles, she aims to inspire hope and provide guidance to those who find themselves facing unprecedented challenges.
Dr. Anna Bowling’s Role as an Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist plays a critical role in the medical field, ensuring patient safety and comfort before, during, and after surgery. Their primary responsibility is to administer anesthesia via a variety of methods, depending on the surgical procedure and patient needs. Anesthesiologists carefully monitor patients’ vital signs throughout the entire perioperative period and are prepared to intervene in emergencies.
Additionally, they are involved in pain management and critical care, making their expertise vital to successful surgical outcomes and overall patient well-being.
Dr. Anna Bowling, a dedicated anesthesiologist, shares her insights and passion for this essential medical profession:
“I am passionate about making surgery as easy as possible for patients,” she explained. “I chose to do a fellowship in regional anesthesia because it helps achieve this aim. Regional anesthesia involves the ultrasound-guided administration of a local anesthetic injection to render the surgical site numb. Regional anesthesia is a major component of multimodal analgesia, which has the aim of providing the best pain control with the least amount of side effects.
Dr. Anna Bowling Remains Committed To Her Patients
In the high-stakes surgery environment, anesthesiologists must focus on their patients’ vital organ functions, intervening as necessary. Dr. Bowling applies this focus both in her professional and personal life:
“Focusing on what’s important and taking care of that first,” Bowling says. “As an anesthesiologist, in a crisis, we become laser-focused on maintaining the patient’s vital organ functions and intervening where necessary. We can tune out everything that doesn’t matter and communicate what is needed. Generally, in life, I take the same approach, focusing my energy and time on what’s most important.”
Dr. Bowling says that she realizes how short life is and how valuable and limited our time and energy are.
Time and energy are the currency of your life, she shares.
“Reducing my life down to what really matters eliminates clutter in my life,” Dr. Bowling explains, “which manages stress and helps me feel that I am living my life in a purposeful way. Remembering my purpose and values keeps me feeling at peace in any circumstance.”
Bowling: ‘Healthcare Truly Is A Team Sport’
Dr. Bowling also emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and the significance of maintaining a sense of purpose in one’s career:
“Measuring our work-life balance like a pie chart is not realistic or helpful. At times, you will need to lean into your career more, and at times, you will need to lean into your personal life more. Learning to shift your energy where it’s needed when it’s needed, within reasonable limits, ultimately leads to greater satisfaction in life.”
Anesthesiologist Dr. Anna Bowling says it’s important to consciously maintain a sense of purpose in your work, no matter how difficult.
“For me, the usual complaints of those in healthcare—such as dealing with difficult personalities, our broken healthcare system, the unrealistic expectations of others, my own unrealistic expectations of myself – can all be softened by looking for the humanity in everyone. We all have the same goal: delivering the best patient care that we can. When we listen to each other, support each other, and learn from each other, it’s amazing what we can deliver.”
A Fulfilling Life
Dr. Bowling’s approach to success is rooted in fulfillment and meaningful work: “I define success as being able to live a life that is fulfilling to you. When we spend our time doing something that feels meaningful, we will be more effective, learn more, and contribute more.”
In reflecting on her career and life, Dr. Anna Bowling believes that even jobs and careers can be purposeful, and she is dedicated to her professional and personal growth. Her journey from an inspired youth who always dreamed of being a doctor to a respected anesthesiologist and life coach exemplifies a commitment to helping others, both in the operating room and beyond.
Through her work, Dr. Bowling continues to touch lives, offering not just medical expertise but also hope, resilience, and a profound sense of care.
She believes her best days are ahead.
“The silver lining of any traumatic experience is that, with the right mindset, profound growth will follow,” she shares. “Like an artist surveying an undisturbed palette, we are limited only by our imagination and perspective.”
