Rakhi Dayal

Biography

Rakhi Dayal, M.D., is Clinical Professor and Program Director of Pain Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care at the University of California, Irvine. She received her medical degree from Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, India, and completed residency training in anesthesiology and pediatrics, followed by a Pain Medicine fellowship at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago. Dayal is board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Dayal serves as Chair of the Committee on Pain Medicine for the California Society of Anesthesiologists and is a member of the CSA House of Delegates. She is a Fellow in the UC Climate Action Innovation & Entrepreneur Project and has led institutional efforts in perioperative sustainability, including serving as Chair of the Perioperative Conservation and Sustainability Committee since 2020. Her work in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from anesthetic gases contributed to UCI Health receiving the Environmental Excellence Award from Practice Greenhealth in 2021. She received the Program Director of the Year award from UCI Graduate Medical Education in 2021 and was named Physician of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association in 2020 and 2022.

Dayal chairs the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Mentorship Committee in her department and serves on the UCI Health DEI Council. She has authored book chapters on pain management and published articles on topics including ketamine use, intrathecal baclofen management, and clinical decision support systems for reducing anesthetic greenhouse gases. Her clinical and research interests include neuromodulation, perioperative pain management in patients with substance use disorders, and the intersection of environmental sustainability with anesthesia practice.

Education

• M.D., Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India, 2000
• Anesthesiology Residency, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India, 2004
• Pediatric Residency, John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, 2008
• Anesthesiology Residency, John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, 2011
• Pain Medicine Fellowship, John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, 2012

Distinctions

• Environmental Excellence Award by Practice Greenhealth, UCI Health, 2021
• Fellow, UC Climate Action Innovation & Entrepreneur Project, 2023-2025
• Best Research Paper Award, 7th Conference of International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society, New Delhi, India, 2003
• Best Poster Award, 7th conference of International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society, New Delhi, India, 2003
• Program Director of the Year, UCI Graduate Medical Education, 2021
• Physician of Excellence, Orange County Medical Association, 2020, 2022
• Regional Anesthesia, 3rd position, Midwest Anesthesia Residents Conference, Chicago, 2011
• Best Resident Award (Anesthesiology), 2008