Amber Noelle Borucki
Clinical Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
Bio
Dr. Amber Borucki is an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist whose focus is chronic pain management in children and adolescents/young adults. She focuses on reducing or managing pain from chronic conditions or pain that occurs after surgery. Dr. Borucki completed her medical degree at Rush Medical College in Chicago, IL. She attended anesthesia residency at the University of Chicago. She completed a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Boston Children's Hospital as well as a combined adult/pediatric pain medicine fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham Women's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Borucki worked for one year in private practice in anesthesiology in Reno, Nevada. Dr. Borucki then worked for 5 years as a pediatric anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist and was the Director of the Pediatric Anesthesia Service at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Dr. Borucki transitioned to Stanford Medicine Children's Health in May 2023 and her clinical duties include working in the Emeryville satellite pediatric pain clinic, pediatric operating room, and pediatric pain inpatient service.
Notable accomplishments include developing and co-chairing the UCSF Benioff Transbay Pediatric Pain Management Committee, development of the pediatric establishment of an adolescent/young adult transitional pain clinic, and serving on the Bridge to One Bay project to standardize pain care across all UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital locations. Dr. Borucki also was instrumental in helping UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital obtain ChildKind designation, a prestigious designation for a hospital indicating that it prioritizes pediatric pain care.
Dr. Borucki is a member of the medical advisory council for the Make a Wish Bay Area chapter. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine (SPPM) and also the associate program director for the upcoming 11th annual SPPM meeting. Dr. Borucki has also served on several committees through the American Society of Anesthesiologists and California Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Borucki served as an editorial board member for Paediatric and Neonatal Pain.
Clinical Focus
- Pain Measurement
- Back Pain
- Acute Pain
- Chronic Pain
- Complex Regional Pain Syndromes
- Myofacial Pain Syndrome
- Pediatric Pain
- Pain Medicine
Honors & Awards
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Farley Fund Award, Boston Children's Hospital (2014)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
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Medical Advisory Council, Make A Wish (2018 - Present)
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Education Committee, Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine (2022 - Present)
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Wellness Committee, Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (2023 - Present)
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Membership Committee, Women Innovators in Pain Management (2023 - Present)
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Committee on Pain Medicine, California Society of Anesthesiologists (2022 - Present)
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Committee on Pain Medicine, American Society of Anesthesiologists (2022 - Present)
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Board of Directors, Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine (2022 - Present)
Professional Education
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Board Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine (2016)
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Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital Dept of Anesthesiology (2016) MA
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Board Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology, Pediatric Anesthesia (2015)
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Board Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology (2014)
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Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital Dept of Anesthesiology (2014) MA
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Residency: University of Chicago Dept of Anesthesia and Critical Care (2013) IL
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Internship: University of Illinois Chicago Advocate Christ Internal Medicine Residency (2010) IL
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Medical Education: Rush Medical College (2009) IL
Community and International Work
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Medical Advisory Council
Topic
Medical Volunteerism
Partnering Organization(s)
Make A Wish
Populations Served
Pediatric Patients
Location
Bay Area
Ongoing Project
No
Opportunities for Student Involvement
No
All Publications
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The Development and Implementation of the Fast-Pace Assessment Framework and Tiered Analgesic Orders for Opioid Optimization.
Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses
2024
Abstract
Within the context of the opioid epidemic, changes needed to be made in the prescription and administration of analgesics. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and implementation of a project that utilized a holistic pain assessment framework and introduced new order sets to guide the integration of nonopioid, opioid, and co-analgesics in a quaternary care medical center.An interdisciplinary team updated policies and procedures for pain assessment and opioid administration and created new analgesic order sets for both adult and pediatric patients. Following requisite approvals, these order sets were integrated into the electronic health record. Education of clinicians, patients, and caregivers was provided to facilitate implementation of these new clinical practices.Prescribers' levels of adherence with the use of the pain order sets ranged from 80% to 90% and no adverse effects were reported. Education of nursing staff was incorporated into hospital orientation. Ongoing evaluations are providing insights into how the new policies and procedures can be optimized to ensure reliable, safe, and effective pain management.Since the implementation of the opioid optimization project, adherence with the tiered, multimodal approach to analgesic prescribing is high. Next steps include both qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the benefits and challenges associated with this practice change. For example, systems will be developed to monitor nurses' adherence with the implementation of the pain order sets and the use of both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain management interventions.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.pmn.2024.01.003
View details for PubMedID 38522974
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Terminology for discussing chronic pain: Using metaphors to educate families on chronic pediatric pain.
Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
2024; 78 (2): 169-173
Abstract
To educate families about chronic pain requires a holistic discussion on the nature of pain, multidisciplinary treatment, and empowering families with tools to support their child's recovery.
View details for DOI 10.1002/jpn3.12072
View details for PubMedID 38374547
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Opioid-free Pain Management after Cleft Lip Repair.
Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open
2023; 11 (9): e5259
Abstract
Side effects of opioid pain management after surgical repair of cleft lips are numerous and affect postoperative course. We compared opioid versus opioid-free pain management regimens for infants who underwent cleft lip repair to evaluate the impact on postoperative recovery.Cleft lip repairs at our institution from December 2016 to February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed, comparing patients who received opioids to patients receiving a nonopioid pain control regimen. Data collected include length of stay, oral morphine equivalents (OME) received on day of surgery (DOS)/postoperative day (POD) 1, time to and volume of first oral feed, and Face/Legs/Activity/Cry/Consolability (FLACC) scores.Seventy-three infants were included (47 opioid and 26 nonopioid). The opioid group received average 1.75 mg OME on DOS and 1.04 mg OME on POD1. Average DOS FLACC scores were similar between groups [1.57 ± 1.18 nonopioid versus 1.76 ± 0.94 (SD) opioid; P = 0.46]. Average POD1 FLACC scores were significantly lower for the nonopioid group (0.73 ± 1.05 versus 1.35 ± 1.06; P = 0.022). Median time to first PO (min) was similar [178 (interquartile range [IQR] 66-411) opioid versus 147 (IQR 93-351) nonopioid; P = 0.65]. Median volume of first feed (mL) was twice as high for the nonopioid group [90 (IQR 58-120) versus 45 (IQR 30-60); P = 0.003].Nonopioid postoperative pain management was more effective than opioids for pain management in infants after cleft lip repair, as evidenced by FLACC scores and increased volume of the first oral feed.
View details for DOI 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005259
View details for PubMedID 37691705
View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10489184
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Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults: History and Perioperative Considerations From the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine.
Anesthesia and analgesia
2023
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are on the rise in children and young adults in the United States. According to reports, over 40 million people aged 12 and older had a diagnosed SUD in 2020.1 A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that overdose death in children aged 10 to 19 years old increased 109% from 2019 to 2021.2 Given the rapidly increasing prevalence of SUD, anesthesiologists will almost certainly encounter children, adolescents, and young adults with a history of recreational drug use or nonmedical use of prescription opioids in the perioperative period. Since the perioperative period can be a particularly challenging time for patients with SUD, anesthesiologists can tailor their perioperative care to reduce rates of relapse and can serve as both advocates and educators for this vulnerable patient population. This article examines the history of SUD and physiology of substance use in children, adolescents, and young adults, including reasons why young people are more susceptible to the addictive effects of many substances. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted many aspects of life, including increased social isolation and shifted dynamics at home, both thought to impact substance use.3 Substance use patterns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic are explored. Although current literature is mostly on adults, the evidence-based medical treatments for patients with SUD are reviewed, and recommendations for perioperative considerations are suggested. The emphasis of this review is on opioid use disorder, cannabis, and vaping particularly because these have disproportionately affected the younger population. The article provides recommendations and resources for recognizing and treating adolescents and young adults at risk for SUD in the perioperative period. It also provides suggestions to reduce new persistent postoperative opioid use.
View details for DOI 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006623
View details for PubMedID 37450650
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An update on complex regional pain syndromes in children and adolescents.
Current opinion in pediatrics
2015; 27 (4): 448-52
Abstract
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition typically involving a limb, which is characterized by neuropathic pain, sensory abnormalities and neurovascular findings. The exact cause of CRPS is unknown; however, proposed theories include alterations in the sympathetic and central nervous system (CNS), small fibre changes in the peripheral nervous system and psychological factors. Although this condition was previously considered rare among children and adolescents, it has been increasingly recognized in paediatric patients and can result in significant disability.The diagnosis of paediatric CRPS is based upon clinical criteria obtained from a thorough history and physical examination. Other possible causes, such as orthopaedic, infectious, vascular and rheumatologic disorders, should be ruled out prior to making the diagnosis. Treatment focuses on a rehabilitative strategy consisting of physical therapy, occupational therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy with an overall focus on return to functioning.CRPS in children and adolescents is characterized by a painful, mottled appearing, swollen limb with allodynia and hyperalgesia. For most patients, pain is severe, resulting in significant functional disability. More recent evidence suggests that a rehabilitative programme results in improvement in both pain and functional measures.
View details for DOI 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000250
View details for PubMedID 26087424
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Risks of fixed-angle supraglottic airways in infants.
Paediatric anaesthesia
2015; 25 (4): 432-3
View details for DOI 10.1111/pan.12599
View details for PubMedID 25752787