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.
1883, August 21
Tornado Strikes
A devastating tornado strikes Rochester, Minnesota, leaving widespread destruction and hundreds wounded.
pictured: Debris from Cyclone [tornado] of 1883.
1889
Edith Graham Mayo
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.
pictured: Edith Graham Mayo in nursing school, 1887.
1889, September 30
Saint Marys Opens
Saint Marys Hospital opens its doors in Rochester, MN.
pictured: Drawing of first hospital building, circa 1880.
1893
Alice Magaw
Alice Magaw becomes the nurse anesthetist for Dr. William J. Mayo and Dr. Charlie H. Mayo.
pictured: Alice Macaw, undated.
1899
Dr. Isabella Herb
Dr. Isabella Coler Herb is hired to give anesthetics for Dr. Charlie H. Mayo and to fulfill a need for a tissue pathologist.
pictured: Isabella Herb, undated.
1914
Mayo Clinic Opens
Mayo Clinic in Rochester “officially” opens its doors.
pictured: 1914 Building with cars and people in front, 1924.
1920, September
Dr. Gaston Labat
Dr. Louis Gaston Labat arrives at Mayo Clinic and the Section on Regional Anesthesia was “founded”.
pictured: Louis Gaston Labat, M.D., undated.
1921, June 21
Dr. William Meeker
Dr. William R. Meeker becomes the new Head of the Section on Regional Anesthesia.
pictured: William R. Meeker, M.D., undated.
1924, February 4
Meeting Dr. Lundy
Dr. William J. Mayo meets Dr. John S. Lundy at a King County Medical Society Banquet in Seattle.
pictured: John S. Lundy, M.D., circa 1930s.
1924, April 1
Lundy Joins Mayo Clinic
Dr. Lundy begins his work as the newly appointed Head of the Section on Regional Anesthesia
pictured: Aerial view of campus from south, Franklin Station and Plummer Building, circa 1930.
1926
Balanced Anesthesia
Dr. Lundy introduces the term “balanced anesthesia”.
pictured: Tray of equipment used by anesthesiologists, circa 1930s.
1929, December 16 - 19
Anaesthetists’ Travel Club
The Anaesthetists’ Travel Club is founded by Dr. Lundy and holds its inaugural meeting.
pictured: Original members of the Anesthetists’ Travel Club, 1929.
1931
Section Renamed
The section is renamed the “Section on Anesthesia”.
pictured: Aerial view of campus from the east, 1931.
1932
Ventilation Innovation
Dr. Lundy develops a prototype for mechanical ventilation of the lungs of anesthetized subjects.
pictured: Mechanical Ventilation Monitor. circa 2020s.
1933
Section Renamed, Again
The section is renamed the “Section on Anesthesia and Intravenous Medication”.
pictured: Aerial view of Saint Marys Hospital from the south, circa 1930.
1934
Renamed, Once More
The section is renamed the “Section on Anesthesia and Intravenous Therapy”.
pictured: Aerial view from the west of the Kahler Hotel and Plummer Building, circa 1930.
1935
New Intravenous Agent
Dr. Lundy proposes that the sodium pentothal is safe and the intravenous anesthetic agent of choice.
pictured: Pentothal Sodium, undated.
1935
Storage Innovations
Dr. Lundy and his colleagues discover that anticoagulated blood could be stored to cool it.
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.
1937
Anesthesia Abstracts
Anesthesia Abstracts begins being published by Florence McQuillen and Dr. Lundy.
pictured: A stack of bound Anesthesia Abstracts that were donated to the Mayo Clinic Archives, 2023.
1938
ABA Incorporated
American Board of Anesthesiology is incorporated as a sub-board of the American Board of Surgery.
pictured: American Board of Anesthesiology logo, undated.
1940
AMA Approves Section
The American Medical Association approves that a Section on Anesthesia is to be formed.
pictured: American Medical Association logo, undated.
1940, July
Journal Published
The first volume of Anesthesiology is published.
pictured: The cover of the first volume of the Anesthesiology the Journal of the American Society of Anesthetists, Inc., 1940.
1941
Board Independence
The American Board of Anesthesiology is approved as an independent primary board from the American Board of Surgery.
pictured: The American Board of Anesthesiology logo, undated.
1942
Postgraduate Expansion
Mayo Clinic begins offering anesthesiology post graduate short courses to assist in World War II.
pictured: Mayo Clinic branch in the Guadalcanal, undated.
1942
Textbook Publication
Dr. Lundy publishes the textbook Clinical Anesthesia.
pictured: John S. Lundy, M.D., circa 1950s.
1944
Section Renamed
The section is renamed the “Section on Anesthesiology and Intravenous Therapy”.
pictured: Mayo Clinic Section of Anesthesiology, 1947.
1950
Needle Modernization
Dr. David J. Massa publishes a paper describing the construction of the first modern plastic needle.
pictured: David J. Massa, M.D., undated.
1952
Dr. Richard Adams
Dr. Richard Charles Adams is appointed as the new head of the section.
pictured: Charles R. Adams, M.D., undated.
1952, December 15
Travel Club Final Meeting
The last meeting of the Anaesthetists’ Travel Club is held in Rochester, Minnesota.
pictured: Anaesthetists’ Travel Club Final Dinner at the Kahler Hotel, December 15, 1952.
1953
Dr. Faulconer Appointed
Dr. Albert Faulconer Jr. is appointed as the new head of the section.
pictured: Albert Faulconer, M.D., undated.
1954, October 21-22
Travel Club Reorg
The Anaesthetists’ Travel Club is reorganized as the Academy of Anesthesiology, and the first meeting is held in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1955
Mayo-Gibbon Machine
First clinical trial of the Mayo-Gibbon vertical screen heart-lung machine.
pictured: Heart-Lung bypass machine, 1955.
1962
Section Renamed
The section is renamed the “Section on Anesthesiology”.
pictured: Aerial view of Saint Marys Hospital campus, 1961.
1964
Mayo Clinic Centennial
Mayo Clinic celebrates its Centennial Anniversary.
pictured: The Mayo Centennial Year 1964 Seal.
1964
NAEC Formed
The Nurse Anesthesia Education Committee is formed.
pictured: Nurse Anesthetists pin, 1982.
1965
Dr. Virginia Hartridge
Dr. Virginia B. Hartridge became the director of the nurse anesthesia program.
pictured: Virginia B. Hartridge, M.D., undated.
1968
Dr. Kai Rehder
Dr. Kai Rehder joins the ICU at Saint Marys Hospital.
pictured: Kai Rehder, M.D., undated.
1969
Neuroanesthesia
Neuroanesthesia article is published which led to Mayo Clinic being recognized as the birthplace of the subspeciality of Neuroanesthesia.
pictured: View of neurosurgery operation. circa 1960s.
1970
Department Formation
The section becomes a department, along with the rest of the sections in medicine and surgery at Mayo Clinic.
pictured: Residents from the Department of Anesthesiology. 1977
1970
Robert R. Johnson
Robert Johnson, CRNA, is appointed the first program director of the nurse anesthesia program.
pictured: Robert Johnson, CRNA, undated.
1971
Dr. Richard Theye
Dr. Richard A. Theye becomes the new chair of the department and helps establish a section of respiratory intensive care within the department.
pictured: Richard A. Theye, M.D., undated.
1972
Intensive Care Expansion
First year of the respiratory intensive care section.
pictured: Intensive care unit at Saint Marys, 1975.
1972
Inhalational Therapy School
Inhalational Therapy School opens.
pictured: Inhalation therapists, undated.
1973
1st RT Graduates
The first class of respiratory therapists graduate from their clinical training at Mayo Clinic.
pictured: Respiratory Therapy Class of 1981, 1981.
1974
Pain Clinic
The Department of Anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic establishes the pain clinic.
pictured: Simulator for ultrasound education that is commonly used in pain clinics, 2011.
1975
Accreditation
Inhalational Therapy and Respiratory Care School receives initial accreditation from the American Medical Association Council and Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education.
pictured: Respiratory care program at Saint Marys Hospital, 1984.
1977
Dr. Alan Sessler
Dr. Alan Sessler becomes the new chair of the department.
pictured: Alan D. Sessler, M.D., undated.
1981
Critical Care Service
Departments of Internal Medicine and Anesthesiology jointly form and conduct a critical care service (CCS).
pictured: Dr. Peter Southorn administering critical care service, circa 1980s.
1984
New Division Formed
Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology is formed at Saint Marys Hospital.
pictured: Cardiovascular anesthesia equipment at Saint Marys Hospital, circa 1983.
1986
Jacksonville Campus
Mayo Clinic opens a clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
pictured: Aerial view of Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus and the Davis Building, 1986.
1987
Scottsdale Campus
Mayo Clinic opens a clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.
pictured: Aerial view of Mayo Clinic’s Scottsdale campus, 1987.
1989
Dr. Roy Cucchiara
Dr. Roy F. Cucchiara becomes the new chair of the department.
pictured: Roy F. Cucchiara, M.D., undated.
1989
Acute Pain Service
The Department of Anesthesiology is permitted to establish an acute pain service.
pictured: Anesthesia medical equipment and stickers for medicines, 2007.
1991
Dr. Duane Rorie
Dr. Duane K. Rorie becomes the new chair of the Department of Anesthesiology.
pictured: Duane K. Rorie, M.D., undated.
1991
New Division Formed
The Acute Pain Service and Pain Clinic are combined to form the Division of Pain Services.
pictured: Anesthesiologist manages airway of a patient beneath a C-Arm machine, 2022.
1999
Dr. Mark Warner
Dr. Mark Warner becomes the new chair of the department.
pictured: Mark A. Warner, M.D., 2023.
2006
Dr. Bradly Narr
Dr. Bradly J. Narr becomes the new chair of the department.
pictured: Bradly J. Narr, M.D., 2015.
2016
Dr. Carlos Mantilla
Dr. Carlos B. Mantilla becomes the new chair of the department.
pictured: Carlos B. Mantilla, M.D., Ph.D., 2021.
2024, April 1
Department Centennial
Centennial of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.
pictured: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Consultants Rochester, 2024.