“I’ve spent one-fifth of my life in this role. I’ve enjoyed working with all my colleagues at the ABA and I take comfort in knowing they will continue to advance the highest standards of anesthesiology.”
Robert R. Gaiser, M.D., is the anesthesiology residency program director and a professor of anesthesiology at Yale University School of Medicine. His academic interests include education and obstetric anesthesia, while he focuses his clinical work on the care of the pregnant patient. Read his complete bio here.
We sat down with Dr. Gaiser ahead of the conclusion of his term as an ABA Director on Sept. 22, 2024, to reminisce about the value of volunteering and his passion for serving on the Board of Directors. He shares the impact of one of his initiatives, how it still resonates with him and his residents, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind in the conversation below.
What are your thoughts as you reflect on your time as an ABA Director
Part of my identity is being a member of the Board of Directors, as I’ve spent one-fifth of my life in this role. I’ve enjoyed working with all my colleagues at the ABA and I take comfort in knowing they will continue to advance the highest standards of anesthesiology. I’ve had the chance to witness the new Board Directors and have seen their enthusiasm and desire for innovation. There comes a time to step back and allow my colleagues to step up, innovate and make necessary advancements.
Why did you want to become a member of the ABA Board of Directors?
I wanted to join the ABA Board of Directors because of my true love for the specialty. Anesthesiology has given me a great career and it is a privilege to care for patients. The ABA has allowed me to support a specialty that I love, help set goals and advance anesthesiology.
What value has volunteering for the ABA brought you, both personally and professionally?
Volunteering at the ABA has given me a chance to give back to a specialty that I love. The ABA advances the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology, and by volunteering, I have had the opportunity to help guide those standards and be a part of the continuing evolution. The ABA is a proactive organization that continues to innovate through their assessments and involvement with physicians throughout the entirety of their careers.
What ABA project or initiative was most memorable during your tenure as a board member?
I was present when we first developed the BASIC Exam. The BASIC Exam is administered halfway through training and has motivated residents to begin studying earlier, allowing them to gain a better understanding of the specialty. I have been a program director for most of my career and have seen firsthand the difference in residents as a result of the BASIC Exam. Prior to the administration of the exam, I spent a lot of time going over basic information with residents, whereas now, residents come in having mastered certain concepts because they had already studied them in preparation for the BASIC Exam.
How has the field of anesthesiology evolved since you began practicing, and what do you think the future will look like?
We are not just the intraoperative physician. The discipline has truly become a perioperative process. Additionally, we’ve become more involved in other disciplines. When I began practicing, our involvement on the labor floor was an afterthought. Now, we’re very actively involved in patient care on both the labor floor and many other areas within the hospital.
In thinking about the future, perioperative medicine will continue to evolve and grow. We must encourage our colleagues to get out of the operating room and continue to be involved in patients’ pre-operative and post-operative care.
