Top Anesthesiology Professors
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Each day, many lives are saved and many injuries are healed thanks in large part to the clinical skills and medical training of professional anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists and anesthesia technicians. Anesthesiologists apply their knowledge of neuroscience, cardiology, pediatrics, chemistry, and anatomy to selecting and administering the medication that best allows patients to undergo and recover from simple or traumatic surgery.
Since anesthesiology can be as much an art as a science, it is important to take courses from professionals who understand the field and strive to advance it by improving outcomes and care. By taking courses from one of these noted professors, you may not only get a top-notch education, but also the knowledge and wisdom to apply it well when it counts the most.
Jeffrey M. Taekman
M.D.Duke University - Durham , NC
Dr. Taekman is the Director of the Human Simulation and Patient Safety Center and a professor at Duke University. He led the development of the Immersive Learning Environment (ILE@D Program), which uses gamification to teach online healthcare concepts. This program earned him the IARS 2013 Teaching Recognition Award for Innovation in Education.
Edward Lowenstein
M.D.Harvard Medical School - Cambridge , MA
Dr. Lowenstein is the preeminent anesthesiology professor at the most notable program in the country. The U.S. News and World Report ranks Harvard University as the Best Medical Graduate School, with unparalleled access to technology, high-yield internships, and mentoring from professors like Dr. Lowenstein. He recently received the William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award in honor of his contribution to budding anesthesiologists.
Adam I. Levine
M.D.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai - New York , NY
Dr. Levine is one of the most celebrated anesthesiology professors of the last decade. He has received both an Honorable Mention for the International Anesthesia Research Society's (IARS) Teaching Recognition Award (2006), as well as the Achievement in Education Award (2009). His innovative teaching methods and mini-simulations have been highlighted in the New York Times.
Linda Mason
M.D.Loma Linda University - Loma Linda , CA
Dr. Mason has formerly acted as President of the California Society of Anesthesiologists (2004-2005) as well as being the current ASA Director for California. In addition, she is an anesthesiology professor and the Assistant to the Dean of Medical Staff Affairs at Loma Linda University. Her specialty is in pediatric anesthesiology, and she has contributed many peer-reviewed publications regarding sedation among children and infants.
Emery N. Brown
M.D., Ph.D.Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge , MA
Dr. Brown is at the forefront of anesthesia research, attempting to define why anesthetic drugs induce the anesthetic state. He is currently collaborating with researchers at MIT/Harvard Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Boston University to better understand and measure levels of sedation. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), as well as a keynote speaker for the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Annual Conference (2014).
Andrew J. Patterson
M.D., Ph.D.Stanford School of Medicine - Stanford , CA
Dr. Patterson is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine at Stanford University. He has received some of the highest honors a Stanford teacher can receive, including the H. Barrie Fairly Excellence in Teaching Award both in 2001 and 2008. He is currently serving the anesthesiology community by acting on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Anesthesiology, Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists, and several high-profile ASA committees.
Daniel J. Cole
M.D.UCLA - Los Angeles , CA
Dr. Cole is a professor of clinical anesthesiology and the Vice Chair for Professional and Business Development in the anesthesiology department at University of California - Los Angeles. He is currently acting as the President-Elect for the ASA, as is the Past President of the California Society of Anesthesiologists.
J. Michael Vollers
M.D.University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Little Rock , AR
Dr. Vollers is both an expert in pediatric anesthesiology and anesthesia education. His recent publication, "Teaching and Learning Styles" was published in the International Anasthesiol Clinics to great applaud. Dr. Vollers is an active member of the IARS, American Medical Association (AMA), Society for Education in Anesthesiology (SEA), and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA).
Jeffrey B. Gross
M.D.University of Connecticut - Farmington , CT
Dr. Gross a professor and the Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at University of Connecticut Health University. He is a very well-respected researcher and teacher, and has won the UCONN Department of Anesthesiology Teacher of the Year Award twice. His publications are notable, earning him the Mary Hanna Memorial Journalism Award from the American Society of Perianesthesia Nursing. He also serves as the Section Editor for Continuing Medical Education in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Brenda G. Fahy
M.D., MCCMUniversity of Florida - Gainesville , FL
Dr. Fahy not only teaches critical care anesthesiology at the University of Florida, but she is very active in professional organizations and research publication. She currently serves as the President of the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists (2012-present), and has been named one of the Best Doctors in America five times. Her publications are numerous, and she is a major contributor to the upcoming Critical Care Ethics: A Practice Guide, 3rd Edition.
James D. Kindscher
M.D.University of Kansas - Kansas City , MO
Dr. Kindsher is the current Director of the Kansas State Society of Anesthesiologists as well as an oral board examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. As an up-and-coming leader in the field, he was asked to contribute a chapter to the most recent edition of Miller's Anesthesiology, a key text for student anesthesiologists. Dr. Kindsher is also a Past President of the American Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors (AAACD).
Lee A. Fleisher
M.D.University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia , PA
Dr. Fleisher's contributions to research and activism in professional organizations have set him apart as a true leader in the field of anesthesiology. He is the immediate Past-President of the Association of University Anesthesiologists and the Co-Chair of the Surgery Standing Committee of the National Quality Forum.
Erin A. Sullivan
M.D.University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh , PA
Dr. Sullivan's professional focus is on anesthetic use models for cardiothoracic surgery patients. She has quickly risen to the top of her specialty, and has served on several high-profile committees, including the Education Committee of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists and the Committee on Surgical Anesthesia for the ASA. Her publications and research have also earned her a place on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia.
James C. Eisenach
M.D.Wake Forest University - Winston-Salem , NC
Dr. Eisenach is a leader in the anesthesiology community, specifically through his incredible research on pain management. He recently received the ASA 2013 Excellence in Research Award for his work with prevention of chronic pain after military and civilian injury. In addition to mentoring graduate students at Wake Forest University, he is the Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesiology (2006-present). He also served as the Chair of the FDA’s Anesthetic and Life Support Drugs Advisory Committee (2007).
Cynthia A. Lien
M.D.Weill Cornell Medical College - New York , NY
Dr. Lien has taught both general anesthesiology and critical care at the Weill-Cornell Medical College. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and is a Fellow with the Society for Neuroscience and Anesthesiology in Critical Care (SNACC). Her research focuses on the properties of neuromuscular blocking agents.
Methodology
Each of the members on this list have been chosen through careful research based on the following criteria:
1. Active Teaching. All of these professors are actively teaching or mentoring students at an accredited college.
2. Publication. Many of these professors have been published in online or print professional journals.
3. Thought Leadership. Professors on this list have been chosen due to their leadership in the anesthesiology community, based on speaking engagements, public leadership, or social media following.
4. Extracurricular Involvement. Each of these individuals are involved in both teaching and outside professional engagements, such as professional communities, educational organizations, or industry advocacy and activism groups.
