In 2024, I began my new role as Chief Executive Officer of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. I am honored that the Board of Directors gave me the great responsibility to be the CEO of this amazing organization, working with our inspiring leaders, dedicated members, and an incredibly talented staff.
I must extend special thanks to ASA President Ronald L. Harter, MD, FASA, for his guidance and patience during my transition into this position. As demonstrated in this report, his leadership was instrumental in our extensive accomplishments this year, especially in his focus on caring for the well-being of our members by introducing the SafeHaven Program.
ASA is fundamentally a very strong organization with a clear, respected voice in the health care ecosystem and robust financial reserves. In 2024, our membership grew to more than 59,000, and for the eighth year in a row, ASA was selected as a Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation.
The list of challenges facing the specialty is extensive: From protecting anesthesiologist-led care, workforce issues, and economics and payment, to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace, physician well-being, research funding, and many more. Across the breadth of the organization, through the commitment of ASA’s leaders and the efforts of our committees, editorial boards, and other work groups, ASA is tackling these challenges. Some solutions are closer to fruition than others. While we work on these challenges, others will arise that we will need to address. I am confident in the Strategic Plan we have in place to move ASA forward and address the most important issues impacting our members.
Looking ahead to the opportunities in front of us as a medical specialty society, they all ladder up to the concept of relevance—ensuring ASA remains relevant to its members every day.
In 2024, our Board of Directors agreed to invest in the pursuit of novel approaches to enhance our member and customer relationships. These approaches will aim to drive meaningful engagement for our members and customers—including clinical learning opportunities for subspecialists, augmented board-prep resources, improved digital experiences, and support for locum tenens practitioners.
ASA’s future is bright, and I am grateful for the privilege to work with our members, Executive Committee, Administrative Council, Board of Directors, House of Delegates, and our staff to fulfill ASA’s mission: To advance the practice and secure the future of the specialty.
Date of last update: February 19, 2025