UNC Anesthesiologist and Professor, Robert Isaak, Elected to ABA Board of Directors
Raleigh, N.C. (Feb. 14, 2024) – We are pleased to announce the election of Robert Isaak, D.O., FASA, to the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) Board of Directors (BOD). Dr. Isaak will officially begin his term as diplomate director following the Fall 2024 BOD Meeting.
Dr. Isaak is a professor of anesthesiology and vice chair of education at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill’s Department of Anesthesiology. He also serves as the director of simulation and section chief of liver transplant and vascular anesthesiology.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Isaak to our Board of Directors,” says ABA Secretary Alex Macario, M.D., MBA. “He is an accomplished clinician and educator who will bring valuable expertise to the ABA and the Board of Directors as we plan to further innovate and augment our initial certification and continuing certification programs.”
Dr. Isaak has been a long-time volunteer for the ABA, working to help advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. He has volunteered as an examiner for the APPLIED Exam since 2016. Dr. Isaak is also a past chair, vice-chair, skill group leader and team skills task force leader for the ABA Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Committee and served as a member of the ABA Space Planning Task Force.
“The ABA consistently strives to help anesthesiologists improve the health of their patients by setting the standards for the practice of anesthesiology,” says Dr. Isaak. “Given the long tradition of steadfast leadership at the ABA, it is a great honor for me to serve our specialty of anesthesiology as a diplomate director. I am excited to begin listening and engaging with our board-certified anesthesiologists, volunteers and ABA staff to find ways to innovate, broaden certification and provide value to practicing anesthesiologists.”
Clinically, Dr. Isaak’s interests include care for patients undergoing liver transplantation surgery, vascular surgery, major oncological surgery and regional anesthesia in the ambulatory surgery setting. His research focuses on topics related to medical education, both for formative and summative assessment. He has done extensive work in developing and validating the OSCE for both the Department of Anesthesiology at UNC and at the ABA.
Dr. Isaak will succeed Robert Gaiser, M.D., who will complete his BOD tenure in the fall of 2024.
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ABA Media Contact
Mike Charbonneau
Chief Communications Officer
(919) 745-2233
mike.charbonneau@theaba.org
About the American Board of Anesthesiology
Our mission is to advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. As the certifying body for anesthesiologists since 1938, we work with physicians to elevate practice standards and foster exceptional patient care. We administer initial and subspecialty certification exams as well as the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) program, which is designed to promote lifelong learning, a commitment to quality clinical outcomes and patient safety. Based in Raleigh, N.C., we are a nonprofit organization and a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).