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Perioperative medicine is a multi-disciplinary approach that encompasses the entire continuum of care for patients undergoing surgery, interventions, or invasive procedures. The goal of perioperative medicine is to improve patient outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality rates throughout the perioperative period. Perioperative medicine emphasizes coordination among anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, specialists, and other medical professionals involved in any phase of perioperative care.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Board of Directors approved the creation of a Center for Perioperative Medicine (CPMed) in 2022 as an organizational strategy for the long-term development of ASA’s initiatives and goal setting in perioperative medicine. CPMed aims to 1) accelerate the adoption of perioperative medicine as a distinct specialty, 2) address the perioperative policy needs of hospitals and health systems, and 3) serve as the leading authority on anesthesia-based issues in perioperative medicine and offer a collaborative platform for stakeholders in this specialty.
CPMed develops educational materials, works toward increasing the perioperative medicine content in residency and fellowship curricula and convenes stakeholders to establish greater collaboration and amplify the tenants of perioperative medicine.
In 2024, the Center hosted the first Perioperative Stakeholder Summit at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. This event brought together anesthesiology focused perioperative medicine stakeholder organizations to discuss various issues in perioperative care. In 2025, the Center hosted the second Perioperative Stakeholder Summit at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 in San Antonio, TX. This Summit was expanded to include surgical and hospital medicine organizations to focus on multidisciplinary collaboration. The Summit is a recurring annual event.
CPMed supported several sessions at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 and ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025. These CPMed Supported Sessions provided learners with a roadmap for developing and implementing multidisciplinary perioperative care pathways. The Center plans to support sessions at each annual meeting, along with contributing to the development of enduring products each year.
CPMed’s efforts are already underway to provide recommendations to the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) in increasing perioperative medicine content in the anesthesiology residency curriculum.
Currently, CPMed promotes perioperative medicine and the role of anesthesiologists in this care. This approach is intended to also provide opportunities for all perioperative medical professionals to collaborate, learn, and implement best practices to improve perioperative outcomes.
Perioperative Medicine was previously covered by multiple ASA committees and physician groups, including the former Committee on Future Models of Anesthesia Practice, the PSH Steering Committee, and the ASA Ad Hoc Committee on perioperative medicine. CPMed builds off previous ASA initiatives and unifies ASA’s efforts to advance perioperative medicine.
Stay tuned to the CPMed website for more information. If you have any additional questions, please email CPMed@asahq.org.
Curated by: the ASA Center for Perioperative Medicine
Date of last update: January 20, 2026
You do not have to make a payment at this time, but you can reach out to your practice/group leader to find out when they plan to pay your dues. Email or call the ASA Support team for assistance: (630) 912-2552 or info@asahq.org.
