Syracuse / New York / United States
About the Department of Anesthesiology The Department of Anesthesiology Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, was established in 1960 previously having been a Division of the Department of Surgery under the direction of Dr. E. Joseph Delmonico. The first Chairman of the department was Dr. Allen B. Dobkin who initiated the policy of all-physician anesthesia and a strong commitment to research which has persisted to this day. During his chairmanship, 1960-1973, much research was done on the pharmacology and biochemistry of new anesthetic agents including enflurane and the first 200 human administrations of isoflurane, as well as extensive investigations of the metabolic and neuroendocrine effects of general anesthesia and their interactions with hypoxia, hypercarbia and blood loss. In 1965 University Hospital moved into its current building and the number of faculty as well as residents, increased. Dr. Edward T. Thomas was Chairman from 1973-1976 followed by Dr. Howard Zauder, 1977-1988, during whose tenure the department continued to strengthen its teaching program and began an ongoing interest in interactive computer teaching. Other areas of special interest included the use of blood and blood products and the use of fiber-optic endoscopy, as well as the development and rapid expansion of the Pain Treatment Service. From 1989-2005 Dr. Enrico M. Camporesi assumed the Chairmanship of the department and with the addition of faculty reinvigorated the research program with special interest in human physiology, hyperbaric medicine and the pharmacology of spinal narcotics. In 2006, Dr. Nancy A. Nussmeier was appointed the Chair of the Department. Dr. Nussmeier had previously served as the Director of Cardiovascular Anesthesia Research at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, TX. Her current mission is to enhance the Departments academic productivity, with interdisciplinary clinical and labatory research activity and enhanced opportunities for faculty and resident scholarship. Furthermore, her vision is that the Department of Anesthesiology will become a prominent resource for education and teaching on the Upstate campus. In 1995, Cardiac Anesthesia services were also instituted. Presently, three full-time faculty and three part-time faculty rotate through this section of the department with integrated echocardiography services provided. Since 1997, Pediatric services have been expanded to include five full-time faculty with sub-specialization in pediatric anesthesia. A full range of anesthesia services (including acute post-operative pain service) is offered with an emphasis on both safety and comfort for young patients undergoing surgery and other procedures. Opening in 2009, The Golisano Childrens Hospital will be the signature piece of the East Wing vertical expansion at University Hospital. Housed on the top of the expansion, the new childrens center will provide over 87, 000 square feet devoted to patient and family friendly amenities. Pretesting of patients for preparedness for anesthesia has evolved to comprise the Preadmission Clinic, staffed daily by an anesthesiology resident, a physician assistant, several nurses and clerical staff under the direction of an anesthesiology attending. In answer to increasing patient volumes and the quest for improved efficiency, we have implemented the concept of an Anesthesia OR Officer of the Day to provide continuity of effort in coordinating the efficient management of the main operating rooms and the pediatric operating rooms. The trend we have observed is towards more complex patients who arrive with reduced preparation opportunities and a need for discharge to high-intensity care units. Another important addition in the past few years has been an active and well-organized Acute Pain Service. This is comprised of a team including a pain fellow and an anesthesia resident under the direction of Dr. Donna-Ann Thomas who completed her residency and pain fellowship training at
