It is a great honor as well as an enormous challenge to take on the chair position in the UCLA Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine during the greatest pandemic of our lifetimes. COVID-19 is far from over, but we have come through the initial crisis of delivering care before testing was widely available, and before we even knew what PPE would be appropriate. Now we face the task of regrouping and adjusting to the “new normal” of continuing infection with SARS-CoV-2. At the same time, we must stay mindful of the wellness of our entire department, and deliver world-class care to every patient who walks through our doors. Through it all, we have published important research, educated our residents, and cared for our patients through some of the most stressful months any of us could imagine.
Ours is one of the premier departments in the nation because we have leaders in anesthesiology at so many levels: in every subspecialty within the hospital setting, in our intensive care units, and in our satellite pain medicine clinics in the greater Los Angeles community. Working together, we're teaching future anesthesiologists about reducing risk and improving outcomes. We welcome the next class of anesthesiology residents, the Class of 2024, and pledge to make their educational experience the best that it can be.
UCLA Health includes Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Mattel Children's Hospital, and the UCLA Medical Group with its extensive system of primary-care and specialty-care offices throughout the region. Consistently ranked one of the top ten hospitals in the nation – and the best in Los Angeles – by U.S. News and World Report, UCLA is at the leading edge of medical care and biomedical research.
We care for more than 60,000 patients every year in our operating rooms, interventional procedure rooms, obstetric suites, and intensive care units, covering every surgical subspecialty and the full spectrum of perioperative clinical care. With nearly 200 clinical and research faculty members, a diverse educational program that includes over 110 residents and fellows, and a remarkable team of nurse anesthetists, clinical support staff, and administrative staff, ours is a growing and vibrant department that is always looking for the best ways to help our patients, our community, and our world.
On behalf of our department, I invite you to take a moment to explore the information on this website and learn more about all the clinical and educational programs and research opportunities that we offer. If you are a medical student or a resident considering the next step in your career, we welcome your interest! We are confident that you would have an excellent experience working in the world-class facilities on the UCLA campus, and that you would enjoy exploring our colorful, endlessly interesting "City of Angels".
If you are a prospective patient or a family member, please visit our "For Patients and Families" section. There you'll find information about the different kinds of anesthesia and pain relief available, along with answers to many more questions you might have. Our promise to you is the most up-to-date, evidence-guided, yet personalized anesthesia care, given with compassion, constant vigilance, and respect for your preferences.
Together, we look forward to a great future of patient care, education, innovation, and discovery.
Sincerely,
