American Society of Anesthesiologists

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research, and scientific association of physicians organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and improve the care of the patient. Founded in 1905, the Society has a membership of more than 30,000. As physicians, anesthesiologists are responsible for administering anesthesia to relieve pain and for managing vital life functions, including breathing, heart rhythm and blood pressure, during surgery. After surgery, they maintain the patient in a comfortable state during the recovery, and are involved in the provision of critical care medicine in the intensive care unit. Members of ASA must be Doctors of Medicine or Osteopathy who are licensed practitioners and have successfully completed a training program in anesthesiology approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).