Mayo Clinic’s Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine has been at the forefront of the field of anesthesiology ever since Dr. John S. Lundy was offered a position as Head of the Section on Regional Anesthesia at Mayo Clinic by Dr. William J. Mayo in 1924. Even before Dr. Lundy’s arrival and the forming of the department, nurses such as Edith Graham and Alice Magaw paved the way for the field of nurse anesthesia and nurse anesthetists. This department has a long and rich history that showcases the effect it has had on the field of anesthesiology not only at Mayo Clinic, but worldwide.
This timeline has been created to showcase important events of the history of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine within the greater history of Mayo Clinic. Many events show how the department has influenced the field of Anesthesia and how individuals from the department have made an impact.
Enjoy weekly updates that contain brief descriptions of articles or vignettes that highlight the department’s development, remarkable personnel across the spectrum of the department.
The W. Bruce Fye Center for the History of Medicine is responsible for acquiring, organizing, preserving, and promoting the recorded memory of individuals and organizations which have shaped Mayo Clinic’s unique culture and history. Within their collections there are materials and artifacts that relate to the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and its history.