Beverley Orser

Dr. Orser is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and the Chair of the Board of the International Anesthesia Research Society. She is also a practicing anesthesiologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada. Her clinical studies and advocacy work focus on patient safety and the anesthesia workforce in Canada. She has co-founded several patient safety organizations, including ISMP Canada (www.ismp-canada.org), the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Quality & Patient Safety Committee, and the Perioperative Brain Health Centre (www.perioperativebrainhealth.com). Her preclinical research has offered fundamental insights into the molecular basis of anesthesia, including the longer-term effects of exposure to anesthetic drugs. Her laboratory first demonstrated the unique pharmacological properties of extrasynaptic GABA_A receptors and identified novel roles for these receptors in health and disease. Her advocacy work has improved patient care and her discoveries have led to patents and potential new treatments.

Dr. Orser’s contributions have been recognized by numerous awards including the Award for Excellence in Research from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (2018), one of the highest honours in anesthesia. She received the Gold Medal from the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society (2017) and the Peter Dresel Award in Pharmacology from Dalhousie University (2017). She received the first Canada Research Chair awarded to an anesthesiologist (2003), the first Frontiers in Anesthesia Research Award from the International Anesthesia Research Society (1995) and awards from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (2014) and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (2009). She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2013), a Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada (2018), and a Senior Fellow of Massy College, University of Toronto (2020). She is one of a few Canadians elected as an International Member of the United States National Academy of Medicine (2018). In 2023, the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists recognized her as a leading female pioneer and innovator in the field. Dr. Orser was honoured with the Order of Ontario (2022), the highest civilian recognition conferred by the province of Ontario.

Dr. Orser received a Medical Doctorate from Queen’s University (1981), a Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (1987), and a PhD in medical science from the University of Toronto (1995). She completed postgraduate clinical training at the Royal Columbian Hospital in British Columbia, McMaster University, the University of Oxford, and the University of Toronto.

Research Synopsis

The discovery of anesthesia ranks as one of the top discoveries in the history of medicine, yet the molecular basis of how these drugs work have eluded scientists for centuries. For over 20 years, Dr. Orser has directed a research laboratory that has made seminal contributions to our understanding of how general anesthetics modify brain function. Her laboratory uses genetic mouse models together with behavioral studies, electrophysiology and biochemical assays to gain a precise understanding of how and where anesthetics act in the central nervous system. Results from her studies have substantially advanced the long-term goal of targeting specific receptors to gain a selective, safer and more effective approach to anesthesia. In addition, Dr. Orser works with nonprofit organizations and government agencies to improve safety for the 234 million patients who undergo anesthesia and surgery each year.

Recent Publications

1. Brenna C, Goldstein B, Zarate C, Orser B, (2024) Repurposing General Anesthetic Drugs to Treat Depression: A New Frontier for Anesthesiologists in Neuropsychiatric Care Vol. 141, 222–237.
2. Orser BA (2024) Discovering the Intriguing Properties of Extrasynaptic γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptors Vol. 140, 1192–1200.
3. Gordon M, Jayakumar N, Atzema C, Korczak DJ, Kennedy S, Schaffer A, Goldstein B Orser BA, Yee D, Fiksenbaum L, Choi LHL, Phillips A, McFarlan A, Kreller M, Freedman C, Tanenbaum B, McDowall D, Ceniti A, Sinyor M (2024) Self-harm presentations to hospital trauma centre emergency departments during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Wang DS, Ju L, Pinguelo AG, Kaneshwaran K, Haffey SC, Lecker I, Gohil H, Wheeler MB, Kaustov L, Ariza A, Yu MF, Volchuk A, Steinberg BE, Goldenberg NM, Orser BA (2024) Crosstalk between GABA_A receptors in astrocytes and neurons triggered by general anesthetic drugs. 
5. Yang H, Littleford J, Orser BA, Zaccagnini M, Umedaly H, Olsen M, Raazi M, LeDez K, Adam Law J, Giffin M, Foerster J, D’Souza B, Ali I, Dillane D, Christodoulou C, Buu N, Bryan R (2024) The evolution and formalization of anesthesia assistant roles across Canada. 
6. Simkin S, Orser BA, Wilson CR, Bourgeault IL (2023) The anesthesia workforce in Canada: a methodology to identify physician anesthesia providers using health administrative data. 
7. Simkin S, Orser BA, Wilson CR, McVicar JA, Crozier M, Bourgeault IL (2023) The Physician Anesthesia Workforce in Canada from 1996 to 2018: A Longitudinal Analysis of Health Administrative Data. 

Appointments

Director of Research, Department of Anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Chair, Board of Trustees International Anesthesia Research Society
Board of Directors ISMP-Canada
CIHR College of Reviewers
Scientific Advisory Board and Steering Committee SmartTots (SmartTot.org)

Honours and Awards

Name: Order of Ontario
Description: 2022, 2023

Name: Canada Research Chair

2004-2014

Name: Leader’s Opportunity Fund

2013

Recognized as one of 45 ‘Women who lead in anesthesia

2023

Medal - Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology

2020

Fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
Elected Member, Association of University Anesthesiologists
Elected member, Board of Trustees International Anesthesia Research Society
CAS Research Recognition Award
Institute for Safe Medication Practices “Cheers” Recognition Award