Dr. James Cottrell to Receive Prestigious Award from the American Society of Anesthesiologists
Aug 2, 2010
James E. Cottrell, MD, distinguished service professor and chair of anesthesiology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, has been chosen to receive the 2010 Distinguished Service Award by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Given in recognition of exemplary service, clinical care, contributions to education, and dedication to advancing the profession, the award will be presented to Dr. Cottrell at the ASA Annual Meeting in October.
The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor bestowed by the ASA, a national organization with historical ties to Downstate. It was founded in 1905 by A. Frederick Erdmann, MD, a hospital anesthetist at Long Island College Hospital (LICH), Downstate’s progenitor institution, and eight of his colleagues. Originally named the Long Island Society of Anesthetists, its membership today numbers more than 40,000 physicians who share the common goal of raising the standards of anesthesiology education and clinical care.
A longtime member of the ASA, Dr. Cottrell is highly respected throughout the organization and served as its president in 2003. As the Society’s immediate past president, Roger A. Moore, MD, puts it, “That Dr. Cottrell has ‘done it all’ is an understatement. As a clinician, he was at the very origins of the development of the subspecialty of neuroanesthesia.” Noting Dr. Cottrell’s influence on current clinical practice and his involvement with patients, Dr. Moore adds, “The safety of patients facing life-threatening surgical interventions has been enhanced as a result of Dr. Cottrell’s efforts. His educational efforts have also been extraordinary, not only for anesthesia residents but for fellow anesthesiologists, and, of equal importance, for the public.”
A pioneer in the field of neuroanesthesiology, Dr. Cottrell’s research on the effects of succinylcholine on intracranial pressure and the neurotoxic effects of nitrous oxide has greatly influenced anesthesia approaches during neurosurgery. He has published more than 125 articles in scientific journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and Neuroscience, co-authored 24 book chapters, edited 11 major textbooks, and has been editor-in-chief since its inception in 1989 of the only scientific journal on neuroanesthesia, the Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology. His book, Under The Mask: A Guide to Feeling Secure and Comfortable During Anesthesia and Surgery, has helped patients face surgery with greater knowledge and certainty.
Known also for his humanitarian activities, Dr. Cottrell is a founding member and former chair of the AIDS Action Foundation. He has been a board member and vice chair of Doctors of the World and served as health policy advisor to the late Senator Edward Kennedy.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.