Dr. David Wlody to Receive Distinguished Service Award

By Office of the President | Dec 2, 2025

Later this month, David Wlody, M.D., will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA) at the Post Graduate Assembly in Anesthesiology, one of the organization’s highest honors. With more than 4,200 members statewide, NYSSA reserves this recognition for leaders whose work has strengthened the field, making this award a testament to Dr. Wlody’s decades of service.

Dr. Wlody trained at the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, completed his anesthesiology residency at Saint Louis University, and pursued a fellowship in obstetric anesthesia at Washington University in St. Louis. His career has centered on improving maternal–fetal care and advancing the profession through mentorship, scholarship, and policy leadership.

Dr. Wlody has held key roles within NYSSA, including Chair of Government and Legal Affairs, General Chair of the PGA (2013–2015), and New York delegate to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Nationally, he served as Chair of the ASA Annual Meeting Committee (2017) and as President of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesiology and Perinatology (SOAP).

At Downstate, Dr. Wlody has shaped clinical training and institutional quality through service as Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, Designated Institutional Official, former Chair of Anesthesiology, and now Residency Program Director in Anesthesiology. His academic work spans obstetric anesthesia, maternal safety, and perinatal health, reflected in numerous publications and national presentations.

This year’s NYSSA honor recognizes a career defined by service to patients, trainees, and the anesthesiology community.

Congratulations, Dr. Wlody, on this outstanding award.