Sphere Articles

Dr. Virginia Apgar: A Leader Born Through Adversity and Innovation (1909–1974)

Dr. Virginia Apgar is a pioneering figure in medicine—not only for her contributions to neonatal care, but also  for the resilience and vision that she embodied in a male-dominated field. Her most well-known contribution, the Apgar Score, has become the universal tool for evaluating newborns. Behind this life-saving innovation is a story of determination, adaptability […]

Dr. Gertie Florentine Marx: The Mother of Obstetrics Anesthesiology (1912–2004)

“Sir, I am a physician—and I go wherever I’m needed as a physician.” With those words, Dr. Gertie Florentine Marx quashed any opposition to her feminine presence in the Physician Residence for Men during a senior anesthesiologist’s cardiopulmonary event, which otherwise could have resulted in her arrest. Dr. Ronald Simon—an associate professor of surgery, a […]

Past Women Anesthesiology Leaders of NYSSA

Take a few minutes to meet three extraordinary NYSSA woman anesthesiologists: Drs. Virginia Apgar, Gertie Marx and Rebecca Twersky. Each of these pioneers saw opportunity—and boldly forged a path that helped shape modern anesthesiology into a safer and more inclusive field.

Phasing Out Desflurane at Three New York State Institutions

Over the past decade, there has been movement towards eliminating desflurane usage both nationally and internationally, with Scotland, England, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador officially phasing out the agent. This article chronicles the journey of three institutions in New York State as they phased out desflurane from their formularies—and provides guidance to other NYS hospitals looking to do the same.

Women Pioneers

For the past 20 years, women have comprised roughly half of all medical school classes in the United States. Yet only 36% of today’s full-time academic anesthesiologists in this country are women—and even fewer women hold leadership roles within the specialty. Here in the 21st century, the gender gap in anesthesiology still persists.

Scenes From PGA78

Legislative Update

In my last Legislative Update, I summarized cases of patient harm and anesthesia-related deaths at two California hospitals that utilized nurse anesthetists as their primary anesthesia providers. This led to a CMS investigation, a finding of “immediate jeopardy”, and the loss of accreditation at both hospitals because they allowed nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia beyond the scope of their authority and with inadequate credentialing procedures.

Clearing the Confusion: New Multisociety Practice Guidance and a Critical Review of GLP-1RA Literature

As of January 2025, GLP-1RAs, including semaglutide and liraglutide, have been approved for weight loss management, with ongoing studies exploring their benefits when used to treat other metabolic conditions and populations. Given the growing popularity of GLP-1RAs, it is crucial for anesthesiologists to understand their perioperative implications.

Leadless Pacemakers: A New Source of Delays for Rural Surgical Patients?

Joyce Liu, M. Eng., Ismat Mrad, M.D., and William Roberts, M.D., Ph.D. Introduction Leadless pacemakers (LPs) are an emerging technology with the potential to significantly improve outcomes in patients who need long-term pacing. As recently as 2017, only two LPs were available. The Nanostim™ was among the first of these devices. It is no longer […]

The 41st Annual International Symposium: Clinical Update in Anesthesiology, Surgery and Perioperative Medicine

The 41st Annual Update in Anesthesiology, Surgery and Perioperative Medicine, organized by the Department of Anesthesiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, was held January 19-24, 2025, at the Hilton Barbados Resort, Needham’s Point, Barbados. This event is intended to assist active professionals who wish to improve their knowledge […]

The New York Academy of Medicine Hosts Jeopardy Competition and Poster Presentations

The New York Academy of Medicine Section on Anesthesiology held its eighth annual Jeopardy Competition and Poster Presentation Night on December 2, 2024. The evening began with a lively reception where residents were able to meet and chat over wine and plenty of enjoyable snacks. Posters were judged by Drs. Meg Rosenblatt, Elisabeth Abramowicz and David […]

A Look at the 78th PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesiology

PGA Scientific Exhibits and Poster Presentations: A Vital Tool for Professional Development Poster presentations offer a wealth of benefits for medical students and trainees, making them a vital tool for professional development, particularly in the early stages of the presenters’ careers. The presentations provide a platform to enhance communication skills by requiring presenters to distill […]