SUMMARY
Molly B. Kraus, M.D., is an anesthesiologist who studies perioperative care delivery, workforce sustainability and equal opportunity in the field of medicine. Dr. Kraus conducts research to benefit both patients and physicians.
Dr. Kraus studies patient outcomes through evidence-based anesthesia practices and optimizing systems of care across the perioperative continuum. She also is nationally recognized for her work examining sex-based differences, parental leave, and the lived experiences of physicians during training and early career development. She integrates clinical research, health services research and policy-relevant scholarship to develop practical, scalable solutions that improve both patient care and the well-being of the healthcare workforce.
Focus areas
Dr. Kraus has several research focus areas.
Perioperative systems improvement and clinical quality initiatives
Dr. Kraus studies quality improvement projects designed to reduce unnecessary testing, optimize perioperative workflows and improve efficiency without compromising patient safety. These projects include eliminating low-value preoperative testing and implementing behavioral and systems-level changes to improve anesthesia practice.
Equality in medicine and physician workforce well-being
Dr. Kraus conducts research on equal opportunity in anesthesiology and academic medicine. Her focus is on improving policies and supporting career development. Her scholarship highlights differences in compensation, advancement and workplace culture and promotes strategies to create equal opportunities and supportive environments.
Pregnancy, parental leave and physician experience during training
Dr. Kraus' work examines how pregnancy, childbirth and parenting intersect with medical training and early career progression for physicians. Dr. Kraus studies how institutional policies, including parental leave and interview practices, impact trainees. She works to develop systems that are more transparent and supportive.
Regional anesthesia and perioperative pain management
Dr. Kraus studies regional anesthesia techniques to improve pain control and reduce reliance on systemic opioids. Her work includes evaluating innovative nerve block approaches and perioperative protocols that enhance recovery, decrease complications and improve patient satisfaction.
Pharmacogenomics and personalized perioperative care
Dr. Kraus participates in research that evaluates pharmacogenomic data in perioperative settings to better understand individual variability in drug response and pain management. This work contributes to precision medicine approaches aimed at improving safety and effectiveness of anesthesia care.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Kraus' research focuses on improving the experience and safety of both patients and the healthcare teams who care for them. She studies ways to better control pain after surgery, reduce unnecessary tests and deliver more personalized care. Her work also addresses how doctors and care teams are supported, recognizing that a healthy workforce leads to better patient care. By improving systems, policies and clinical practices, her research helps create safer surgeries, smoother recoveries, and more compassionate care for patients and their families.
Professional highlights
Assistant editor, Anesthesia & Analgesia, 2024-present.