The specialty of anesthesiology at Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester Medical Center has a long history of excellence. From the time that the first anesthetic was administered through the present day, our Department has grown to be one of the finest academic departments in the nation. The following are some milestones of anesthesiology at URMC.

• 1926       First anesthetic was administered at Strong Memorial Hospital
• 1950       Division of Anesthesiology was formed under the Department of Surgery
• 1953       Anesthesiology Residency Program was established
• 1969       Department of Anesthesiology was established  

Alastair J. Gillies, M.D. served as our first Department Chair from 1969 through 1983. During his tenure, he recruited a number of excellent faculty members and encouraged the development of an excellent clinical department and residency program with a wide variety of cases being done. He established a research program and several faculty members participated in both basic science and clinical research.

In 1983, Ronald A. Gabel, M.D. was recruited from Peter Bent Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston to become the Department’s second Chair. A few highlights during Dr. Gabel’s tenure include:

• Developed first computerized Operating Room Database, and established an Information Systems Group
• Formed subspecialty groups in cardiac anesthesia, critical care medicine, obstetric anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, and neuroanesthesia
• Established a multidisciplinary Pain Treatment Center
• Developed an Operating Room Management Committee with representatives from Anesthesiology, Surgery, Nursing, and Hospital Administration.
• Expanded clinical services to the nearby Lattimore Community Surgicenter
• Built and dedicated Alastair J. Gillies, M.D. Anesthesiology Library in honor of our first Chair 

In 1992, Denham S. Ward, M.D., Ph.D. was recruited from UCLA as the Department’s third Chair. The following are a few achievements during Dr. Ward’s tenure as Chair:

• Purchased one of the first Anesthesia Human Patient Simulators in the country
• Hosted the first international conference on medical simulation
• Implemented innovative education programs such as the TAPS Program (Training Anesthesiologists as Physician Scientists); the Anesthesiology MBA Program, and various faculty development programs
• Expanded clinical services to include the development of the Liver Transplant Program and the Preadmission Evaluation Clinic
• Assumed leadership role in managing the operating rooms at Strong Memorial Hospital
• Merged with Highland Hospital Anesthesiology Group forming a clinical practice track
• Expanded basic science and clinical research programs
• Hosted the Annual Meeting of the Association of University Anesthesiologists
• Established Ronald A. Gabel, M.D. Excellence in Teaching Award 

In 2001, James L. Robotham, M.D., F.R.C.A. succeeded Dr. Ward as the Department’s fourth Chair. A few highlights from Dr. Robotham’s tenure as Chair include:

• Established the Mitochondrial Research & Innovation Group
• Directed operating room expansion project
• Implemented novel faculty recruitment strategies including contracting with CGF Anesthesiology Associates during national shortage of anesthesiologists
• Established Robert M. Lawrence, M.D. First Resident in Anesthesiology Award 

In 2008, the Department was fortunate to once again have Dr. Ward, who was now the Associate Dean for Faculty Development – Medical Education, return as our Chair. During the last couple of years, Dr. Ward has expanded the residency program and oversaw the opening of the Medical Center’s new Ambulatory Surgical Center and new facilities for the Pain Treatment Center. He has also worked with the faculty in developing a major five-year strategic plan encompassing the Department’s three missions, education, clinical care, and research.