Leading the Way

“Through our mastery of physiology and pharmacology, our ability to recognize and manage crises, and our expertise in situational awareness, we can empower patient care and advance medicine through the latest technologies.”

Meet ABA Director Vivek K. Moitra, M.D.
Dr. Moitra specializes in critical care medicine and is the Allen I. Hyman, M.D., professor of critical care anesthesiology at Columbia University Medical Center. He also serves as the critical care medicine division chief, co-medical director of the surgical intensive care unit and program director of Columbia University’s Critical Care Medicine Fellowship. Learn more about Dr. Moitra’s ABA involvement here.

What unique role do anesthesiologists play in encouraging or owning patient safety?
I often think of anesthesiologists as the electricity of a hospital building. We have our footprint in all parts of the hospital, and through our mastery of physiology and pharmacology, our ability to recognize and manage crises, and our expertise in situational awareness, we can empower patient care and advance medicine through the latest technologies.

Tell us more about your subspecialty certification.
In addition to being an anesthesiologist, I completed a year of training in critical care medicine and currently practice as an intensivist in my hospital. I care for patients in the surgical and cardiothoracic intensive care units, and a large part of my practice involves supporting organ function and managing patients at the end of their lives.

Who has impacted or influenced you throughout your career?
As a volunteer at the ABA, I’ve had the opportunity to meet countless physicians who are involved in our practice. During the examination development and administration process, I’ve been influenced by so many people across the country, particularly by their diverse perspectives on how we do what we do.

A large part of the mentoring and sponsorship that happens in this organization is not just about acquiring and sharing knowledge but about learning how to develop as an anesthesiologist and physician.

Why do you value board certification?
Board certification recognizes anesthesiologists who represent the specialty in the best possible way. We want to serve the public so that they have confidence in our abilities and competence as physicians.

How have your continuing certification activities translated to your practice?
I’ve always been a student at heart, and activities such as MOCA Minute have allowed me to improve my practice. MOCA Minute has allowed me to expand my scope and delve into topics that I may not be familiar with.

What CME topics are you pursuing this year and why?
Medicine has been changing rapidly due to artificial intelligence and machine learning, so I’ve taken it upon myself to learn as much as possible about those fields and their impact on healthcare. The population I serve is largely Spanish speaking, so recently, I hired a Spanish tutor to help me learn my medical Spanish.

Why did you want to become a member of the ABA Board of Directors?
I wanted to be part of an organization that strives to empower patient care by advancing the highest standards of anesthesiology and to do that in an innovative and agile way.

What do you do when you’re not practicing anesthesia?
I like to spend time with my son and treat myself to 30-day challenges. I most recently ran a half marathon, which was not easy for me as a non-runner, but I’m always up for a challenge.