The timeline below focuses on important events of the history of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. Many of the events focus on the changes in the department and its staff. Other dates and events that are listed focus on Mayo Clinic’s history and developments in the field of anesthesiology. This timeline starts in 1883 and continues until the department’s centennial in April of 2024.
pictured: Edith Graham Mayo in nursing school, 1887.
Edith Graham Mayo returns to Rochester and takes over as nurse anesthetist for Dr. William W. Mayo, which begins the trend of nurses whose sole clinical responsibility was to administer anesthetics.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #12: "Anesthesia in Rochester-the Early Years" and Centennial Celebration Update #57: "Ether Day, October 16: Mayo Clinic's Role in the Use of Ether in the U.S.". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Alice Magaw, undated.
Alice Magaw becomes the nurse anesthetist for Dr. William J. Mayo and Dr. Charlie H. Mayo.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #12: "Anesthesia in Rochester-the Early Years"; Centennial Celebration Update #51: "Two Exceptional Alumni Who Became Leaders of Nurse Anesthesia Nationally and Internationally"; and Centennial Update #57: "Ether Day, October 16: Mayo Clinic's Role in the Use of Ether in the U.S.". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Isabella Herb, undated.
Dr. Isabella Coler Herb is hired to give anesthetics for Dr. Charlie H. Mayo and to fulfill a need for a tissue pathologist.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #12: "Anesthesia in Rochester-the Early Years". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: 1914 Building with cars and people in front, 1924.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester “officially” opens its doors.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #56: "The Start of Mayo Clinic: A Remarkable New Movie". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Louis Gaston Labat, M.D., undated.
Dr. Louis Gaston Labat arrives at Mayo Clinic and the Section on Regional Anesthesia was “founded”.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration #23: "Our Department of Anesthesiology Innovations: Gaston Labat and the Rise of Regional Anesthesia at the Mayo Clinic and Across the U.S.". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Aerial view of campus from south, Franklin Station and Plummer Building, circa 1930.
Dr. Lundy begins his work as the newly appointed Head of the Section on Regional Anesthesia.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #2: "Origins of the Department"; Centennial Celebration Update #16: "Mayo Clinic, the American Board of Anesthesiology, and the Evolution of the Specialty"; Centennial Celebration Update #24: "Department of Anesthesiology Innovations: Preoperative Transfusion Triggers for Low Hemoglobin"; and Centennial Celebration Update #43: "Educators Internally, Leaders in Education Everywhere". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: John S. Lundy, M.D., circa 1930s.
Dr. John S. Lundy establishes the Anatomy Laboratory in the basement of the Palen and Lohse funeral home in Rochester.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #34: Department of Anesthesiology Innovations: The Anatomy Laboratory". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Original members of the Anesthetists’ Travel Club, 1929.
The Anaesthetists’ Travel Club is founded by Dr. Lundy and holds its inaugural meeting.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #35: "The Start of the Anesthetists' Travel Club and the Evolution of the Specialty" and Centennial Celebration Update #48: "Dr. Lundy, the Anaesthetists' Travel Club, and the Development of the Specialty". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Pentothal Sodium, undated.
Dr. Lundy proposes that the sodium pentothal is safe and the intravenous anesthetic agent of choice.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration #20: "Historic Inventions by Department Members". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: The Blood bank team preparing to move at Saint Mary's Hospital. Pictured are Harriet Cronk, Noreen Robins, Dr. John S. Lundy, Dr. Albert Faulconer Jr., and Helene Romness, 1951.
Dr. Lundy and his colleagues discover that anticoagulated blood could be stored to cool it.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration #20: "Historic Inventions by Department Members" and Centennial Celebration #24: "Department of Anesthesiology Innovations: Preoperative Transfusion Triggers Low Hemoglobin". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: American Board of Anesthesiology logo, undated.
American Board of Anesthesiology is incorporated as a sub-board of the American Board of Surgery.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration #16: "Mayo Clinic, the American Board of Anesthesiology, and the Evolution of the Specialty". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: The American Board of Anesthesiology logo, undated.
The American Board of Anesthesiology is approved as an independent primary board from the American Board of Surgery.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration #16: "Mayo Clinic, the American Board of Anesthesiology, and the Evolution of the Specialty". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Medical Officers of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Public Health Service in Training in Anesthesiology in the Mayo Foundation, with Advisors. February 19, 1943.
Mayo Clinic begins offering anesthesiology post graduate short courses to assist in World War II.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #3: "Military Introduction"; Centennial Celebration Update #30: "John Lundy's Clinical Anesthesia Textbook: Unique, Controversial, and War Worthy"; and Centennial Celebration Update #44: "The Mayo Clinic and the Military". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: John S. Lundy, M.D., circa 1950s.
Dr. Lundy publishes the textbook Clinical Anesthesia.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #22: "Books, Books, and More Books" and Centennial Celebration Update #30: John Lundy's Clinical Anesthesia Textbook: Unique, Controversial, and War-Worthy". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: David J. Massa, M.D., undated.
Dr. David J. Massa publishes a paper describing the construction of the first modern plastic needle.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration #21: "Our New Department Repository for History – Introducing “The History of the Mayo Clinic Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine” webpage". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Charles R. Adams, M.D., undated.
Dr. Richard Charles Adams is appointed as the new head of the section.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration #24: "Department of Anesthesiology Innovations: Preoperative Transfusion Triggers for Low Hemoglobin". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Anaesthetists’ Travel Club Final Dinner at the Kahler Hotel, December 15, 1952.
The last meeting of the Anaesthetists’ Travel Club is held in Rochester, Minnesota.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #35: "The Start of the Anesthetists' Travel Club and the Evolution of the Specialty" and. Centennial Celebration Update #48: "Dr. Lundy, the Anaesthetists' Travel Club, and the Development of the Specialty". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Virginia B. Hartridge, M.D., undated.
Dr. Virginia B. Hartridge became the director of the nurse anesthesia program.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #7: "Cardiovascular Anesthesia Leadership" and Centennial Celebration Update #41: "Dr. Virginia Hartridge". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Kai Rehder, M.D., undated.
Dr. Kai Rehder joins the ICU at Saint Marys Hospital.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #11: "Halothane". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: View of neurosurgery operation. circa 1960s.
Neuroanesthesia article is published which led to Mayo Clinic being recognized as the birthplace of the subspeciality of Neuroanesthesia.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #9: "Jack Michenfelder"; Centennial Celebration Update #26: Our Department of Anesthesiology and Its Role in Elucidating Succinylcholine-induced Hyperkalemia and also Mechanisms of Malignant Hyperthermia"; and Centennial Update #27: "Remarkable Educators: This Week's Feature on Dr. Ron Faust". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Intensive care unit at Saint Marys, 1975.
First year of the respiratory intensive care section.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #52: "The Beginning of Intensive Care in Rochester" and Centennial Celebration Update #54: "The Start of the Section on Respiratory Intensive Care and Its Evolution into the Critical Care Service". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Inhalation therapists, undated.
Inhalational Therapy School opens.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #54: "The Start of the Section on Respiratory Intensive Care and Its Evolution into the Critical Care Service". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Respiratory Therapy Class of 1981, 1981.
The first class of respiratory therapists graduate from their clinical training at Mayo Clinic.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #54: "The Start of the Section on Respiratory Intensive Care and Its Evolution into the Critical Care Service". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Simulator for ultrasound education that is commonly used in pain clinics, 2011.
The Department of Anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic establishes the pain clinic.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #5: "Innovations: The Department and Neuraxial Opioids". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Respiratory care program at Saint Marys Hospital, 1984.
Inhalational Therapy and Respiratory Care School receives initial accreditation from the American Medical Association Council and Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #54: "The Start of the Section on Respiratory Intensive Care and Its Evolution into the Critical Care Service". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Alan D. Sessler, M.D., undated.
Dr. Alan Sessler becomes the new chair of the department.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #4: "Centennial Year". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Cardiovascular anesthesia equipment at Saint Marys Hospital, circa 1983.
Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology is formed at Saint Marys Hospital.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #7: "Cardiovascular Anesthesia Leadership". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Aerial view of Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus and the Davis Building, 1986.
Mayo Clinic opens a clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #46: "The Early Development of Departments in Jacksonville, Florida and Scottsdale, Arizona and Centennial Celebration Update #49: "Contributions to the Mayo Board of Governors and Trustees". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Aerial view of Mayo Clinic’s Scottsdale campus, 1987.
Mayo Clinic opens a clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #46: "The Early Development of Departments in Jacksonville, Florida and Scottsdale, Arizona and Centennial Celebration Update #49: "Contributions to the Mayo Board of Governors and Trustees". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Anesthesia medical equipment and stickers for medicines, 2007.
The Department of Anesthesiology is permitted to establish an acute pain service.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #5: "Innovations: The Department and Neuraxial Opioids". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.
pictured: Anesthesiologist manages airway of a patient beneath a C-Arm machine, 2022.
The Acute Pain Service and Pain Clinic are combined to form the Division of Pain Services.
For more information and other information related to this event, check out Centennial Celebration Update #5: "Innovations: The Department and Neuraxial Opioids". These Updates are located on the 2024-2025 Centennial Celebration page.