At their annual fall meeting October 16, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) named Denham S. Ward, M.D., Ph.D., as successor for long-time President, Alan D. Sessler, M.D. Dr. Ward will begin his term as president in 2011.

“Dr. Ward is an accomplished physician scientist with a long history of leadership in anesthesiology,” said Dr. Sessler. “Over the months ahead, I will assume a support role in advocating for FAER's mission, confident that my successor will act wisely to create new pathways to propel the specialty's next generation to a new and higher level of patient care, innovation, and discovery.”

Dr. Ward has been a member of the FAER Board of Directors since 2002 and is now serving as board chair. He is currently Professor of Anesthesiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, where he is also Chair of the Anesthesiology Department and Associate Dean for Faculty Development – Medical Education.

FAER is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to advance medicine through education and research in anesthesiology. FAER provides research grants and career development opportunities for medical students, residents, and anesthesiologists. Since it was founded by the American Society of Anesthesiologists in 1986, the foundation has awarded more than $20 million in research grants, and typically awards more than $1 million in research grants annually.

Contact:

Nicole Brudos Ferrara, Associate Director - Communications

Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research

507-538-7886

www.faer.org