Andrew S Longenecker, MD
Program Director Department Director for Orthopedic AnesthesiaDr. Longenecker was born and raised in Reading, PA and is a third-generation physician at Reading Hospital with strong family ties to the area. He studied Biology and Music at Bucknell University in Lewisburg. He then completed medical school at Temple University in Philadelphia and subsequently travelled to central Pennsylvania in Danville to complete residency training at Geisinger Medical Center.
He has small children at home which has been his primary focus outside of work. He dreams of obtaining his private pilot license and hopes to improve his golf game someday. In the spring and summer months he spends some time with his beehive, in hopes of some fresh local honey. In the fall and winter months he enjoys spending time outdoors and hunting primarily for white-tail deer.
Erica Thurber, MD
Associate Program DirectorDr. Thurber grew up near Reading, Pennsylvania where she spent most of her time caring for and riding horses. Starting from a very young age, she competed in English-style equestrian sports across the eastern United States. Following high school, she attended Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she majored in biology and competed on the college equestrian team.
She also spent a semester abroad in Denmark, where she furthered her pre-medical studies. After graduating from college, she attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She completed her anesthesiology residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and subsequently completed a fellowship in regional anesthesia at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She became a faculty member at Thomas Jefferson University for one year, after which she joined the anesthesia department at Tower Health - Reading Hospital in 2018. She served as clerkship director for medical students and later became Assistant Program Director of the residency program. She also developed the acute pain services at Reading Hospital.
Dr. Thurber lives within walking distance of the hospital in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania with her husband, Patrick, and two children, William and Eleanor. When she is not chasing after her children, Dr. Thurber enjoys all things fitness and wellness. You can find her running, biking, taking fitness classes, and/or attempting to learn yoga and meditation.
Daniel J Katz, DO
Associate Program DirectorDr. Daniel Katz is originally from Philadelphia, PA and grew up in southern New Jersey. He attended McGill University, majoring in Humanistic Studies after taking a gap year to travel across Europe and North Africa. Following college, and several years living in Western Canada, he pursued a career in medicine, first working several years as an EMT while completing his prerequisites for medical school.
He graduated from Rowan University's School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2017 and completed an anesthesiology residency at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. He now lives in Berks County with his wife Karon and their family. His interests in medicine and anesthesiology are centered on resident education, ultrasound, obstetrics, vascular and thoracic surgery.
Julian L Castaneda, MD
Core Faculty Member Section Chief of General AnesthesiaDr. Castaneda hails from Bogota, Colombia, but now lives in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Raised in Reading, PA as a child, Dr. Castaneda is deeply connected to the local community. Having double majored in Biology and Spanish at Ursinus College, Dr. Castaneda completed medical school and his anesthesia residency at Temple University. After training,
Dr. Castaneda joined Reading Hospital's anesthesia department and has been with us since. Today, he is both a core residency faculty member and section chief of general anesthesia for the department. On weekends you can find him at the beach or in the mountains with his wife Brenna and their three children.
Lorenzo C Rafer, MD
Core Faculty Member Director of Medical Student EducationLorenzo Rafer was born in Paterson, New Jersey and attended NYU for his undergraduate degree, earning a BA in Music from the College of Arts and Sciences. He obtained his medical degree from Penn State University College of Medicine at Hershey Medical Center in 2014 and finished his anesthesiology residency at Hershey in 2018.
He has interests in undergraduate medical education, furthering the departmental scholarly mission, and resident wellness and education. Outside of the hospital, he loves to cook, travel, play golf, and spend time with family and friends both in the surrounding area and around NYC.