American Society of Anesthesiologists

Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research, and scientific society.

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About

Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research, and scientific society with more than 60,000 members organized to advance the medical practice of anesthesiology and secure its future. ASA is committed to ensuring anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of all patients before, during, and after surgery. ASA members also lead the care of critically ill patients in intensive care units, as well as treat pain in both acute and chronic settings.

For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit ASA online at asahq.org. To learn more about how anesthesiologists help ensure patient safety, visit asahq.org/madeforthismoment. ASA publishes Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology Open, and ASA Monitor, and stays connected with members and the public on Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.

Latest articles

Physician voices

Women’s pain dismissed as stress can have a treatable source

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Anita Gupta, DO, PharmD

October 26, 2026Oct 26, 2026

A patient came to my clinic after three years of being told her pain was "probably stress." She had seen her primary care doctor, two orthopedists, and a neurologist. She had tried medications, been handed pamphlets, and learned to apologize…

A patient came to my clinic after three years of being told her pain was “probably stress.” She had seen her primary care doctor, two orthopedists, and a neurologist. She had tried medications, been handed pamphlets, and learned to apologize for bringing it up at all. By the time she reached me, she had stopped believing anyone in medicine would take her pain seriously.

She is not unusual. She is the …

The Podcast by KevinMD

Health insurance mergers are why your doctor is leaving [PODCAST]

American Society of Anesthesiologists & The Podcast by KevinMD

September 4, 2026Sep 4, 2026

In a lot of towns there is only one health insurer left, and that is starting to show up in patient care. Rita Agarwal is a pediatric anesthesiologist who started asking why colleagues in a specialty she loves are heading…

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Physician voices

Workplace violence in health care demands systemic change

American Society of Anesthesiologists

August 15, 2026Aug 15, 2026

Workplace violence in health care has become one of the most urgent occupational safety crises in the United States. Anesthesiologists, as well as other physicians, nurses, emergency personnel, therapists, technicians, and support staff, routinely face verbal threats, intimidation, physical assault,…

The National Institute for Occupational Safety …

Medical education

Medical student advocacy begins before you feel ready

American Society of Anesthesiologists

July 29, 2026Jul 29, 2026

One of my favorite quotes is, "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu." I did not fully understand the meaning of that statement until I became involved in advocacy and organized medicine during medical school. Like many…

One of my favorite quotes is, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” I did not fully understand the meaning of that statement until I became involved in advocacy and organized medicine during medical school.

Like many medical students, I entered training focused almost entirely on becoming the best physician I could be. My priorities were studying for exams, earning …

Health policy

Insurance consolidation is a patient safety problem

American Society of Anesthesiologists

June 4, 2026Jun 4, 2026

Imagine a physician who has been practicing anesthesiology for 20 years. She is skilled, board-certified, well-liked, and respected by her team. She now works more hours than she did 10 years ago, covers more call, cares for sicker patients, and…

Physician voices

5 game-changing New Year’s Resolutions the insurance industry should adopt

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Donald E. Arnold, MD

February 3, 2025Feb 3, 2025

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD. Behind every denial letter, there's a story. A cancer patient forced to delay life-saving treatment, a parent battling red tape to secure the recommended therapy for their child…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.

Behind every denial letter, there’s a story. A cancer patient forced to delay life-saving treatment, a parent battling red tape to secure the recommended therapy for their child who must “fail” the cheaper alternative first, a person with diabetes rationing medication because their insurer refused to cover the

…

Physician voices

Stop and listen: How listening to patients and families is ever important for optimal care

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Anna Swenson, MD & Barbra Orlando, MD, PhD & Christina Menor, MD & Rita Agarwal, MD

May 13, 2024May 13, 2024

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD. We always hear about the art and science of medicine, but with our busy practices, the science stays at the forefront, while the art can get lost. Personal…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.

We always hear about the art and science of medicine, but with our busy practices, the science stays at the forefront, while the art can get lost. Personal experiences or a special patient can help open our eyes. The following are just a few stories from physicians that illustrate the power of …

Physician voices

Transforming the preoperative patient consultation: from “clearance” to “evaluation and optimization”

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Emily Methangkool, MD, MPH & George Tewfik, MD, MBA & Monica Harbell, MD & Stephen Rivoli, DO, MPH

November 13, 2023Nov 13, 2023

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD. Put yourself in the anesthesiologist's shoes. It's 7:00 a.m., and you've just finished setting up the operating room (OR). You make your way to the preoperative unit to…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.

Put yourself in the anesthesiologist’s shoes. It’s 7:00 a.m., and you’ve just finished setting up the operating room (OR). You make your way to the preoperative unit to evaluate your patient and find a prescription pad note that says, “Patient cleared for surgery at acceptable risk.” As you review the chart and speak to the …

Conditions and diseases

Air quality alert: Reducing our carbon footprint in health care

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Shreya Aggarwal, MD

September 30, 2023Sep 30, 2023

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD. Do no harm. We learn this throughout our medical education and training, and in practice it is a keystone for clinical decision making. This principle continues to inspire…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.

Do no harm. We learn this throughout our medical education and training, and in practice it is a keystone for clinical decision making. This principle continues to inspire patient safety, quality improvement, and better patient care. Do no harm also applies to the environment. How we practice medicine directly impacts our carbon footprint, and as …

Health policy

The high “cost” of waste in U.S. health care, and what we can do about it

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Lalitha Sundararaman, MD

August 21, 2023Aug 21, 2023

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. The U.S. spends the largest amount of money on health care in the world – around $4.3 trillion annually. However, an estimated 20% to 30% of this is…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

The U.S. spends the largest amount of money on health care in the world – around $4.3 trillion annually. However, an estimated 20% to 30% of this is wasted, with no benefit reaching the populace. Culprits contributing to this waste include administrative and duplicative paperwork, and overpriced pharmaceuticals and medical devices. To put it in …

Physician voices

Advice for the hospitalist caring for a patient after delirium in the post-anesthesia care unit

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Elizabeth Mahanna-Gabrielli, MD

June 19, 2023Jun 19, 2023

You are called by the bedside nurse that your patient arrived on the floor from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The nurse tells you that the patient was delirious and agitated after anesthesia, pulled out their IVs, and was sedated by the PACU team. They are somnolent now, but awaken to voice. Their family is at the bedside, very concerned about what happened and would like to speak to you.

The …

Conditions and diseases

U.S. maternal death rate keeps climbing: Understanding root causes can help reduce maternal mortality

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Mark Zakowski, MD

May 14, 2023May 14, 20232

As we recognize Mother's Day on May 14, let's take this time to reflect on how we can help ensure all moms celebrate with us, year after year. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…

As we recognize Mother’s Day on May 14, let’s take this time to reflect on how we can help ensure all moms celebrate with us, year after year. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the U.S. maternal mortality rate rose once again in 2021 – an 89% increase for all women since 2018. Additionally, the maternal mortality rate for Black women has …

Physician voices

Words matter: Caring for pain patients with suspected opioid use disorder

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Rita Agarwal, MD

April 20, 2023Apr 20, 20234

"We need an urgent pain consult for patient Lucy Bee in room 5621. She's a 17-year-old drug addict and is screaming and wanting morphine," I was told. Lucy Bee is not a real patient, but a composite of patients I…

“We need an urgent pain consult for patient Lucy Bee in room 5621. She’s a 17-year-old drug addict and is screaming and wanting morphine,” I was told. Lucy Bee is not a real patient, but a composite of patients I have cared for either when providing pain management services on our inpatient floors, or in the operating room.

Hearing the reason for the consult, I made many assumptions, even before reviewing …

Drugs and prescribing

Advocacy and collaboration lead to major patient safety benefits on sterile pharmaceutical compounding: a review of USP’s revisions to Chapter <797>

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Elizabeth Rebello, MD

April 10, 2023Apr 10, 2023

In November 2022, revisions to the United States Pharmacopeia's (USP) General Chapter , a standard for sterile pharmaceutical compounding – defined as the process of "combining, admixing, diluting, pooling, reconstituting, repackaging, or otherwise altering a drug product or bulk drug…

In November 2022, revisions to the United States Pharmacopeia’s (USP) General Chapter <797>, a standard for sterile pharmaceutical compounding – defined as the process of “combining, admixing, diluting, pooling, reconstituting, repackaging, or otherwise altering a drug product or bulk drug substance to create a sterile medication” – were published. USP <797> plays a major role in guiding regulatory bodies and accrediting organizations on sterile compounding. USP’s 2022 revisions to USP …

Physician voices

Maximizing physician potential: How coaching can aid in conflict resolution, enhance health care leadership and build stronger teams

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Asha Padmanabhan, MD

March 30, 2023Mar 30, 2023

Every day, in my job as an anesthesiologist, I am called upon to manage conflict. Sometimes, it's between two members of my team, sometimes it's between coworkers, and many times it is a conflict I may have with my own…

Every day, in my job as an anesthesiologist, I am called upon to manage conflict. Sometimes, it’s between two members of my team, sometimes it’s between coworkers, and many times it is a conflict I may have with my own co-worker or peer.

Whether it’s because someone I supervise is chronically late or underprepared, I have to go head-to-head with a surgeon for delaying their case, the expectations of the operating …

Physician voices

Addressing health disparities to improve patient safety

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Govind Rangrass, MD & Lilibeth Fermin, MD

February 13, 2023Feb 13, 2023

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Health disparities affecting minority and vulnerable populations are increasingly well-recognized after the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Across a large number of quality metrics, the Agency for…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Health disparities affecting minority and vulnerable populations are increasingly well-recognized after the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Across a large number of quality metrics, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s latest National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report found that Blacks, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Hispanics receive overall worse medical care than white …

Physician voices

Investing today in early-career physicians’ unique needs fuels tomorrow’s health care leaders

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Muhammad A. Farooq Anwar, MD, MBA

November 13, 2022Nov 13, 2022

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. My physician grandfather believed medicine was the noblest profession, a career that combined making an honest living with a meaningful difference. Inspired by his passion, I followed in…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

My physician grandfather believed medicine was the noblest profession, a career that combined making an honest living with a meaningful difference. Inspired by his passion, I followed in his footsteps, believing I was on the path to a lucrative life of helping people in need.

The reality has been bumpier and more surprising than expected.

Medicine is noble. …

Physician voices

Speak up for safety in health care

Aalok Agarwala, MD, MBA & American Society of Anesthesiologists & Emily Methangkool, MD, MPH & Karolina Brook, MD

November 1, 2022Nov 1, 2022

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. A nurse is assisting the attending physician in placing a central line in the intensive care unit. It's 3 a.m., and the attending is clearly tired, having admitted…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

A nurse is assisting the attending physician in placing a central line in the intensive care unit.

It’s 3 a.m., and the attending is clearly tired, having admitted eight patients so far on her shift. The nurse notices the physician pushing her eyeglasses up her nose – after donning her sterile gloves. She then moves to touch …

Read more…

Speak up for safety in health care

Physician voices

The perioperative surgical home: a model to tackle today’s pressing health care issues

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Randall M. Clark, MD & Robert Shakar, MD

October 18, 2022Oct 18, 2022

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. The health care landscape has never been more complex. A deadly and enduring pandemic; health care delivery challenges that leave some communities at higher risk for adverse outcomes;…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

The health care landscape has never been more complex. A deadly and enduring pandemic; health care delivery challenges that leave some communities at higher risk for adverse outcomes; an opioid crisis that takes nearly 200 American lives per day; and an ever-evolving regulatory climate. In the midst of these challenges, health care organizations are pressured to …

Physician voices

The heartbreak and joy of missions-based pain medicine: a pain physician’s perspective

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Donna-Ann Thomas, MD

September 27, 2022Sep 27, 2022

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Approximately 30 percent of the world’s population reports living with some form of pain, ranging from headaches to joint pain to cancer-related pain. Unfortunately, pain medicine expertise and…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Approximately 30 percent of the world’s population reports living with some form of pain, ranging from headaches to joint pain to cancer-related pain. Unfortunately, pain medicine expertise and the medications and non-drug therapies available to relieve pain are not as widely distributed as the populations that require care. Additionally, many are economically and socially disadvantaged, compounded …