Chair's Welcome

Roberta L. Hines, M.D.

Roberta L. Hines, M.D.

One hundred and fifty eight years after the first public demonstration of ether, the specialty of anesthesiology remains on the forefront of clinical and scientific innovation. Yale combines the resources of a rich history with the opportunities for dynamic new growth.

The department is proud of its rich academic heritage. The department was founded in 1968 by Dr. Nicholas Greene, who many of you may recognize as one of the founding fathers of the journal of Anesthesia and Analgesia. The department quickly established itself as a national leader in clinical anesthesiology and resident education. Dr. Luke M. Kitahata was Chairman of the department from 1973 to 1982. Dr. Kitahata's expertise in neuroscience was pivotal in establishing a robust research enterprise. In 1982, Dr. Paul Barash was appointed Chairman, and under his leadership both the clinical and educational programs experienced dramatic growth. This increased clinical activity provided new opportunities for expanded clinical research activities.

In 1995, I became Chairwoman of the Department of Anesthesiology at Yale University School of Medicine, and Chief of the Anesthesiology Service at Yale-New Haven Hospital. During my tenure, the department has seen growth and expansion of anesthetic practice reflecting the true "perioperative" nature of the discipline. In addition, there has been a renewed emphasis upon undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Educating future clinicians and researchers will help us remain a leader in anesthesia care.

During the next decade, one of the most interesting areas of investigation (in all medical specialties) will be that of the “genetic” aspects of human disease. With the mapping of the human genome completed, qualities relating to the impact of specific modalities on varying genotypes can now be explored. You may ask, “What is the relevance of this to the practice of anesthesiology?” The answer will include exploration of numerous areas including identifying the mechanisms responsible for differential responses to various intra- and post-operative therapeutic modalities. In the era of "evidence" based medicine, the specialty of anesthesiology is ideally suited to serve as the model for these investigations.

I am, indeed, honored to represent the excellence of our faculty and students!

n closing, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Michael Watkins-Pitchford, MB BS, who shared his photographic skills with the department and provided many of the photos within the site.