WASHINGTON, DC – May. 17, 2016 -- The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) yesterday presented California State Sen. Richard Pan, M.D. (D-Sacramento), with the 2016 Excellence in Government award in recognition of his exemplary contributions to the medical specialty of anesthesiology, its practitioners and patients.
Dr. Pan is a pediatrician and former University of California-Davis Director of the Pediatric Residency Program. Dr. Pan serves the Sacramento community and was first elected to the State Assembly in 2010 and elected to the State Senate in 2014. The first piece of legislation Dr. Pan authored in the Senate was the California Society of Anesthesiologists (CSA) sponsored SCR 4, which commemorated “Physician Anesthesiologist Week” for the first time in California history. TIME magazine also called Dr. Pan a “hero” when he authored landmark legislation to abolish non-medical exemptions to legally required vaccines for school students. Dr. Pan is a former Chair of the Assembly Health Committee and currently serves on the Senate Health Committee and is Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Children with Special Needs.
"Since entering into public service, Dr. Pan has continued to serve the patients and people in his community," said ASA President Daniel Cole, M.D. "ASA applauds Dr. Pan for his commitment to patient safety and the continued impact he makes on health care policy in California and across the nation."
"As a fellow physician, I recognize the impact that extends beyond the exam room and into the community,” said Dr. Pan. “Thank you for your tireless advocacy for patient safety and your commitment to advancing physician-led care in California. I am honored to accept this award and look forward to continuing to work with ASA and other specialties to improve communities."
Separately, ASA honors a physician anesthesiologist each year with the Bertram W. Coffer, M.D. Excellence in Government award in recognition of his or her contributions to the specialty to advance ASA’s legislative, political and regulatory priorities. This year, ASA Past President Jane C.K. Fitch, M.D., was also recognized with the Bertram W. Coffer, M.D. Excellence in Government award.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 52,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology. ASA is committed to ensuring physician anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of patients before, during and after surgery to provide the highest quality and safest care every patient deserves.
For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at
asahq.org. To learn more about the role physician anesthesiologists play in ensuring patient safety, visit
asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount. Like ASA on
Facebook, follow
ASALifeline on Twitter.
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