Lema to Receive American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Most Prestigious Service Award

Mark J. Lema, MD, PhD ’78, professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology.

Mark J. Lema, MD, PhD ’78, professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology

Published July 12, 2011 This content is archived.

Mark J. Lema, MD, PhD ’78, professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, will receive the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ highest tribute for service and achievement—only the 65th physician in the organization’s century-plus history to be so honored.

As a Distinguished Service awardee, Lema joins an elite group that includes the founders of anesthesiology, the specialty's most recognized authors and recent pioneers.

He will accept the award at the ASA’s annual conference in October.

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In receiving the ASA’s Distinguished Service Award, Lema joins an elite group that includes the founders of anesthesiology, the specialty's most recognized authors and recent pioneers.

Practiced Palliative Care Before Others in His Field

Lema has published more than 175 papers on basic research in muscle physiology and clinical research in pain management. He has lectured at more than 225 institutions around the world.

He received his PhD in physiology from University at Buffalo and his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

After completing his anesthesiology residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, he was awarded the Parker B. Francis Research Fellowship, which resulted in the first publication demonstrating the existence of smooth muscle myosin isozymes.

In 1987, at age 38, he was appointed chair of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center's Department of Anesthesiology. A year later, he joined UB’s faculty. Lema then began to focus on managing cancer pain and practicing palliative care—an uncommon role for an anesthesiologist, but one that presaged an emerging subspecialty.

In 1999 he became professor and chair of anesthesiology at UB.

Enhanced ASA’s Member Services as President

As president of the ASA in 2007, Lema launched a sweeping reorganization that expanded member services, improved financial performance and increased the experience and diversity of the executive staff.

In 2010 he was elected treasurer of the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists (WFSA). Representing more than 140 member nations, the WFSA sponsors anesthesia training programs in underserved areas to reduce mortality related to medical care.

Lema is a past president of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (2004) and the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (2001).

Past ASA Honorees Include Apgar Score Developer

Past recipients of the ASA Distinguished Service Award include:

  • Virginia Apgar, MD, developer of the Apgar score for assessing newborns’ health
  • Ellison Pierce Jr., MD, father of the modern anesthesia safety movement
  • Ralph Waters, MD, founder of the first independent anesthesia department in a medical school
  • Ronald Miller, MD, and Robert Stoelting, MD, authors of the foremost introductory textbook on anesthesia