Chair's End-of-Year Message

As we near the end of 2025, I want to extend my sincere appreciation for everything you have done for our patients, our learners, and for one another. This year has brought remarkable achievements, meaningful milestones, and significant change. Through it all, you have continued to demonstrate the dedication and excellence that define our department.

I would like to acknowledge the many groups whose efforts make our success possible. Our faculty and learners inspire us with their commitment to excellent clinical care and education. Our research community drives innovation in anesthesiology and pain medicine. Our administrative teams keep the department running smoothly, and all our members contribute professionalism, generosity, and dedication.

This has truly been a year of growth for our department. We shared many meaningful moments together, including Shields Research Day, Faculty Development Day, and end-of-year celebrations such as the fellowship program’s winter dinner.

Guided by our newly launched 2025-2027 strategic plan, we continue to grow in size, strength, and impact. Clinically, we remain focused on supporting the exceptional work of our faculty and have expanded our team through new appointments, including family practice anesthetists. We also strengthened our clinical leadership with the appointment of Neuroanesthesia Clinical Lead Dr. Lakshmikumar Venkat Raghavan, with additional leadership roles, including a Quality Improvement Lead, to come.

In education, we have undertaken an anesthesia residency expansion and look forward to its continued growth. Another major milestone was our residency accreditation visit last month, for which we are excited to receive the results in the very near future.

Research remains a cornerstone of our excellence, highlighted by new professorships across our sites with more announcing soon. This year, Dr. Justyna Bartoszko was appointed as the John Alchin and Hal Marryatt Early Career Professor in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dr. Ahtsham Niazi as the inaugural Vincent and Anne Chan Professor in Faculty Leadership, and Dr. James Khan as the inaugural Anesthesia and Pain Management Professor in Perioperative Sciences. In the New Year, we are also excited to welcome our new business manager, Nicole Kuchinsky, whose leadership will be invaluable as our department continues to evolve.

As we head into the break, I encourage you to take well-deserved time to rest, recharge, and enjoy time with loved ones. Thank you for your contributions, your passion, and your commitment to our shared mission.

Wishing you a happy holiday season and a wonderful start to 2026!

Warm wishes,

Beverley A. Orser, OOnt, MD, Ph.D., FRCPC, FCAHS
Professor and Chair
Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto