Leading the Way

“Board certification sets the standard. As a board-certified anesthesiologist, it shows people that I have the competency, communication skills and technical skill set to care for patient safety.”

Meet ABA Director Jiapeng Huang, M.D., Ph.D.
Jiapeng Huang, M.D., Ph.D., began his tenure on the ABA Board of Directors in October 2025. Dr. Huang is a tenured professor and vice chairman of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at the University of Louisville (UofL), Louisville, KY, where he leads clinical and translational research. He serves as the chief scientific officer for UofL Health and is the associate dean for clinical research at the UofL School of Medicine. Dr. Huang also serves as deputy director for the Louisville Clinical and Translational Research Center, funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Read his full bio here.

Why are you passionate about anesthesiology?
As an anesthesiologist, I have the ability to take the pain away from patients during an incredibly painful time. When they enter the operating room, they have many issues leading up to the surgery, and I am there to help them.

What drew you toward pursuing an adult cardiac anesthesiology subspecialty certification?
Adult cardiac anesthesiology is complex with a variety of interesting procedures that teach me new things every day. Every time I complete a case, I learn something new. Working on these complex cases in adult cardiac anesthesiology has also given me the skill set to take care of  critically ill patients coming in for non-cardiac surgeries.

What is the biggest misconception surrounding anesthesiology?
The biggest misconception surrounding anesthesiologists is that we simply provide anesthesia, ensure the patient is asleep and then leave the room. In actuality, we are with the patient throughout the entire procedure, monitoring their vital signs, ensuring they’re stable and safeguarding their brain and heart function.

Why did you want to become a member of the ABA Board of Directors?I value the opportunity to be able to help enact a new strategy for the ABA that will impact and shape the future of anesthesiology. Being a Board Director provides a great opportunity to network with exceptional leaders across anesthesiology. This has been a dream for me and a highlight of my career thus far.

As you join the Board of Directors and we implement our 2025-2030 strategic plan, what projects or initiatives are you most looking forward to?
There are two initiatives that I am particularly interested in: AI and resident engagement. I look forward to exploring how we can use AI to help us develop enhanced examination content. Resident engagement is also a crucial initiative because residents are the people taking the initial certification exam, so their input is vital.

What value has volunteering for the ABA brought you both personally and professionally?
Volunteering with the ABA has provided the opportunity to network with many great leaders, physicians and people. It has also given me the opportunity to further contribute to my field and advance the practice. Assisting with the various committees and Board initiatives also helps me personally ensure that the next generation of anesthesiologists meets the highest standards of the practice.

What do you think the future of anesthesiology will look like?
I predict that artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to anesthesiology and I don’t think we have any choice but to embrace it. AI will change how we practice anesthesia over time. We receive so much data and information between the monitor, patient medical record data, the surgical field and more. I believe AI has the capability to pull together all of that information and then make a recommendation to us.

Then the next question would be, would AI replace anesthesiologists? The answer is definitely not. Humans will always be a part of the process to ensure safety and continue to do the many aspects of care that AI cannot replicate. AI will help us, but it will not replace us.

What unique role do anesthesiologists play in encouraging and owning patient safety?
Anesthesiologists are the leaders for patient safety, both inside and outside the hospital. Before beginning a surgery, we’ll do a timeout where we stop what we’re doing, then talk about the patient, the procedure and what is needed from everyone part of the care team. During a surgery, we are consistently monitoring the patients and ensuring all their medications are working properly.

Outside of the operating room, we are looking for opportunities to monitor patients more effectively and enhance safety for procedures. By ensuring there is a high level of patient safety throughout the perioperative process, we can help patients recover quickly and successfully. Anesthesiologists are really the leaders for patient safety, and we’re advancing the field.

What is the value of board certification, and what qualities set apart board-certified anesthesiologists?
Board certification sets the standard. As a board-certified anesthesiologist, it shows people that I have the competency, communication skills and technical skill set to care for patient safety. This is what sets board-certified physicians apart from other physicians. Secondarily, board certification provides opportunities for enhanced leadership, both within the ABA and your institution.

How have you used MOCA Minute?
I love MOCA Minute. The process is so easy and allows me to do questions in between cases. I tend to do a couple of questions at a time, all tailored to my specialty. By selecting the percentage of cardiac questions I want, I can make sure I am keeping up with the newest knowledge and continuously learning. After I answer the questions, I go to the answers and look at the reasoning and additional resources that are provided. It’s a great learning tool.

What ABA GO resource do you use most frequently?
The CME Explorer. There are so many CME activities available and it can be difficult to figure out which activities I should pursue based on my needs. After logging into the CME Explorer, I type in what I want to do or learn this year, and it generates relevant activities. From there, I decide what I want to go through. The entire process has saved me time and simplified the process.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not practicing anesthesiology?
I enjoy running, practicing martial arts and playing basketball in my backyard. My wife and I have also enjoy traveling.