Dr. David Mazer Receives Cara Phelan Chair in Critical Care Medicine
Dr. David Mazer is the new Cara Phelan Chair in Critical Care Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital-Unity Health Toronto.
This is a prestigious position jointly held by the University of Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital. Dr. Mazer is the second faculty member to be appointed to this research Chair. Dr. Andrew Baker was the inaugural holder of the Cara Phelan Chair of Critical Care Medicine and a member of the Department of Anesthesiology at SMH.
David initiated his research and clinical career in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital (SMH) in 1987. Over the last 30 years, he has been a leader in cardiovascular anesthesia and critical care, working tirelessly to establish a world-leading clinical research program that would inform clinical practice to improve patient outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease, with sustained support from the University of Toronto, SMH and the SMH Department of Anesthesia.
David has published over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts in high impact peer reviewed journals (NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, BMJ, European Heart Journal, Circulation, Ann Thoracic Surg, Anesthesiology, J Clin Invest and all major anesthesia Journals). His research is also highly cited, with over 25,000 citations and a generated H-Index of 66. Additionally, he has acquired over $30 million in peer reviewed and investigator directed research.
During his career, David has also participated in research that has impacted the lives of patients undergoing heart surgery through studies which supported the use of TXA over Aprotinin, potentially reducing patient mortality (NEJM 2009); understanding of the mechanism of TXA induced seizures, and thereby reducing associated morbidity (JCI 2012); defining appropriate use of restrictive transfusion strategies in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery (NEJM 2017, 2018) and understanding mechanism by which SGLT2 inhibitors reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes and heart failure (JACC 2021, Circulation 2019).
Through his time as a mentor and collaborator, David has also helped many colleagues initiate and sustain rich academic careers in Anesthesiology and Critical Care. Additionally, David has helped many anesthesiologists establish thriving and healthy careers on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.
He plans to continue his focus on developing collaborative relationships with anesthesia departments within and across Canadian and international universities. These relationships will help promote basic and clinical research with the support of this Endowed Chair. These efforts will also directly impact the care of patients with cardiovascular disease, enhancing both the lives of these patients, and the clinicians caring for them by providing solutions to the critical health care issues facing patients with cardiovascular disease.
David is the second member of the Department of Anesthesiology at SMH to receive this Chair – Dr. Andrew Baker was the inaugural Cara Phelan Chair of Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Baker received the chair in 2012 and held it for two five-year terms.
"The chair has provided me with many opportunities, but I am most proud of the work in teams I participated in," he said while speaking on his experience. "This work changed and improved organ donation and in turn, the number of successful transplants. Another highlight was the opportunity to work with students pursuing graduate work. They brought amazing energy and ideas to the lab."
