Leading the Way

“What sets a board-certified anesthesiologist apart is that they not only met the standard for practicing but have exceeded it. Board certification gives the patients and the public organizations they work for a sense of credibility in terms of who they are and what they stand for.”

Meet ABA Director Mohammed M. Minhaj, M.D., MBA
Dr. Minhaj is the current chair of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at NorthShore, Swedish and Northwest Community Hospitals in the Endeavor HealthSystem. His clinical interests include cardiothoracic and high-risk obstetric anesthesia. Dr. Minhaj is a fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American College of Healthcare Executives. Read his complete bio here.

Why are you passionate about anesthesiology?
We are one of the few specialties that cares for patients from the time that they’re born all the way through to the end of their life. We get the opportunity to take care of a wide range of patients, including those who are at the most critical and vulnerable parts of their lives when they’re having surgery. Each day in the specialty is a little different and has different challenges.

What would you say the biggest misconception surrounding anesthesiology is?
I think the biggest misconception surrounding anesthesiology is that it’s easy. While we can make it look easy, that doesn’t mean it is easy.

How has the field of anesthesiology evolved since you began practicing, and what do you think the future will look like?
The degree of subspecialization has increased with the field, as well as shifts in supply and demand. As the demand has grown exponentially, the supply has not necessarily kept up, putting us in the current workforce shortage. Over time, I believe that shortage will begin to ease. The demands for what we bring to the table both clinically and from a health care leadership perspective are going to increase.

What sets a board-certified anesthesiologist apart?
What sets a board-certified anesthesiologist apart is that they not only met the standard for practicing but have exceeded it. Board certification gives the patients and the public organizations they work for a sense of credibility in terms of who they are and what they stand for. They are now engaged in lifelong certification and training, so education does not just end the day they walk out of residency.

How do your continuing certifications activities translate to your practice?
MOCA Minute and CME activities make me better clinically at the bedside. They make me smarter and keep me engaged by asking questions about topics I don’t think about every day while also reinforcing the cases I see every single day. MOCA Minute has been revolutionary. You have a longitudinal assessment that provides feedback in real time, impacting your daily practice.

What CME topics are you pursuing this year and why?
My CME topics center around my clinical work in cardiac and obstetric anesthesiology, as well as my administrative and leadership roles within my organization. I spend a significant portion of time working on developing my soft and leadership skills.

Why did you want to become a member of the ABA Board of Directors?
The mission of the ABA to advance the highest standards of the specialty has resonated with me throughout my career. I had the ability to volunteer for the ABA in various capacities early in my career and was inspired by the dedication to the mission by the staff and physician volunteers that I worked with.

When you’re not practicing anesthesia, what do you like to do?
I love to read. I like to follow sports, although I don’t play them as often as I used to. I have two children, 12 and 10 years old, who keep me quite busy!