HSS Anesthesiologist-in-Chief to Receive 2018 Distinguished Service Award
Gregory A. Liguori, MD, anesthesiologist-in-chief at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Clinical Professor in Anesthesiology at Weill Cornell has been selected to receive the 2018 Distinguished Service Award by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA). He will receive his award on April 19 at the 2018 World Congress on Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine in New York City.
ASRA’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes those who have made extraordinary contributions to the science, teaching, or practice of regional anesthesia or pain medicine, and have had an active involvement in ASRA.
A member of ASRA for 27 years, Dr. Liguori is an accomplished clinical anesthesiologist who specializes in regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine in orthopedics.
"It is among the greatest honors of my life to receive this award, and I am humbled to be included among the ranks of so many leaders in ASRA whose careers I have admired," said Dr. Liguori. "I have dedicated my career to expanding the use of regional anesthesia in orthopedics to enhance quality patient care, and training future leaders in the field."
Under his leadership, over 85 percent of procedures at HSS are performed with regional anesthesia, and over 98 percent of joint replacements are performed utilizing neuraxial techniques. These anesthetic methods have been proven to result in a lower incidence of medical and surgical complications, as well as lower opioid use in the peri-operative period.
Dr. Liguori played an integral role in expanding education programs at HSS including the Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship. Since its inception in 1987, more than 130 regional anesthesiologists have graduated.
"I feel strongly that trainees' exposure to the entire peri-operative spectrum of the patient experience is incredibly important," explained Dr. Liguori. "Our fellowship graduates are the next generation of leaders in regional anesthesia and pain medicine and will continue to evolve and improve the field."
While at HSS, fellows are exposed to a high volume of regional anesthetics in orthopedics (over 45,000 anesthetic procedures in 2017 alone). These physicians have gone on to practice in 21 states and seven countries with some becoming leaders and directors at major hospitals.
After being appointed anesthesiologist-in-chief in 2002, Dr. Liguori helped organize and develop a regional anesthesia fellowship director’s group. As leader of this group, he co-authored Regional Anesthesiology Fellowship guidelines and has been drafting and improving updated versions ever since.
Dr. Liguori also works to develop and enhance fellow and resident skills at HSS utilizing cutting-edge educational technology including the expansion and growth of ultrasound-guided regional techniques, a regional-focused simulator program, and a novel cadaver lab curriculum.
Additionally, Dr. Liguori has established an individual quality assurance and performance improvement team within the Department of Anesthesiology at HSS that reviews cases and provides continual improvement at all levels.
During Dr. Liguori’s tenure as chief, the Department of Anesthesiology at HSS has grown from 25 anesthesiologists to over 70 anesthesiologists and pain management specialists, all while improving overall patient satisfaction scores.
He has published 5 book chapters and 37 peer-reviewed articles and is also currently an associate editor for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. He has lectured locally, nationally, and internationally on topics related to regional anesthesia in orthopedics.
This year’s World Congress will be an unprecedented combined meeting of five continental societies: the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA), the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia & Pain Therapy (ESRA), the Latin American Society of Regional Anesthesia (LASRA), the Asia-Oceania Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine (AOSRA), and the African Society of Regional Anesthesia (AFSRA).
Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD, anesthesiologist at HSS, with Gregory A. Liguori, MD.
Mary Hargett, director of education and clinical initiatives for the Department of Anesthesiology at HSS, a member of HSS since 1988, will also receive special recognition at the 2018 World Congress for her vital contributions to ASRA’s educational mission. She will be recognized for her endless energy, enthusiasm, and organizational efforts in support of fellow and resident events and activities at the ASRA spring and fall meetings. Ms. Hargett is a co-author on all three versions of the Regional Anesthesiology Fellowship guidelines, as well as several additional peer-reviewed articles, many of which focus on education and training. She has served as the administrator for the North American Fellowship Directors' Group, a voluntary Group of over 70 Fellowship Programs, since its inception in 2002. Ms. Hargett has also been the administrative leader of the HSS Regional Anesthesiology Fellowship, as well as all of the HSS-affiliated Anesthesiology Residency Rotations since 1995.
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