Irina M Murray Casanova, MD, FACS : Bio and credentials

Dr. Irina Murray is a board-certified general surgeon with additional certifications in surgical critical care and acute care surgery. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Acute Care Surgery at the University of Florida and is the Medical Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. She also holds the role of Site Director for the University of Florida’s Anesthesia Critical Care Fellowship program.

In her leadership role, Dr. Murray oversees the care of a 10-bed ICU that serves a diverse and complex veteran population. Her clinical focus includes the postoperative management of high-acuity cardiothoracic surgery patients—particularly valve replacements, coronary artery bypass grafting, robotic lung resections, and transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR). She also provides care to critically ill patients from a broad range of surgical specialties including vascular, orthopedic, plastic, ENT, urology, and general surgery. As part of the VA general surgery group, she maintains a robust elective and emergency surgery practice and participates in the general surgery call pool.

Dr. Murray plays a central role in clinical education at the VA, coordinating the monthly rotations of UF anesthesia critical care fellows and general surgery residents. She is an advocate for protocol-driven care, quality improvement initiatives, and interdisciplinary education. Her work as SICU Medical Director has allowed her to successfully lead a high-performing ICU, implement impactful clinical processes, and mentor the next generation of surgical intensivists and acute care surgeons.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Murray completed her medical education and general surgery residency at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in 2013. She later served as a Clinical Assistant Professor there before pursuing fellowships in trauma and surgical critical care at the University of Florida. Since completing her training in 2018, she has remained deeply committed to academic surgery, critical care, and service to the veteran population.

Dr. Murray is passionate about surgical education and mentoring. She takes pride in guiding medical students, residents, and fellows through the intense, rewarding environment of acute care and critical care surgery. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in team-based care, continuous learning, and the pursuit of excellence in patient outcomes.