American Board of Anesthesiology
Anesthesiology
An anesthesiologist is a physician who provides anesthesia for patients undergoing surgical, obstetric, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures while monitoring the patient’s condition and supporting vital organ functions. The anesthesiologist also diagnoses and treats acute, chronic and/or cancer pain as well as provides resuscitation and medical management for patients with critical illnesses and severe injuries.
Contact the board to learn about specialty and subspecialty certification requirements.
Subspecialties
Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology
An anesthesiologist who specializes in Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology has expertise in the imaging, diagnosis, physiology, pharmacology and management of adults with advanced cardiac disease. Their practice includes medical and periprocedural care for patients with disease of the heart and great blood vessels, including diagnostic, surgical, minimally invasive and transcutaneous procedures that may require cardiopulmonary bypass or other mechanical circulatory assistance.
Critical Care Medicine
An anesthesiologist who specializes in Critical Care Medicine diagnoses and treats patients with critical illnesses or injuries, particularly trauma victims and patients with multiple organ dysfunction who require care over a period of hours, days or weeks. These physicians also coordinate patient care among the primary physician, critical care staff and other specialists and their primary base of operation is the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital.
Health Care Administration, Leadership, and Management
A specialist in this area has the clinical background and comprehensive expertise in health care administration to manage administrative functions with high-level organizational impact. The specialist is dedicated to a patient’s experience and an organization’s effectiveness while working with stakeholders to improve professionalism/organizational culture and spearhead process improvement and patient safety. These leaders can serve in an executive health care management position, such as a C-suite executive, vice president, dean, or medical director in a hospital, health system, academic setting, or government agency.
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
An anesthesiologist who specializes in Hospice and Palliative Medicine provides care to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This specialist works with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize quality of life while addressing the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patient and family.
Neurocritical Care
The medical specialty of Neurocritical Care is devoted to the comprehensive multi-system care of the critically ill patient with neurological diseases and conditions.
Pain Medicine
An anesthesiologist who specializes in Pain Medicine diagnoses and treats patients experiencing problems with acute or chronic pain, or pain related to cancer, in both hospital and outpatient settings and coordinates care needs with other specialists.
Pediatric Anesthesiology
An anesthesiologist who specializes in Pediatric Anesthesiology provides anesthesia for neonates, infants, children and adolescents undergoing surgical, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures as well as appropriate pre- and post-operative care, advanced life support, and acute pain management.
Sleep Medicine
An anesthesiologist who specializes in Sleep Medicine has expertise in the diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep, that disturb sleep, or that are affected by disturbances in the wake-sleep cycle. This specialist is skilled in the analysis and interpretation of comprehensive polysomnography, and well-versed in emerging research and management of a sleep laboratory.
