Mayo Clinic | Anesthesiology | Department Timeline

Department Timeline

Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine History Homepage
Department History
Department Statistics
Department Members and Annual Past Meetings
- Highlighted Department Members
- Annual Past Meetings
The Mayo Clinic & Military Anesthesia
- Mayo Clinic Military Anesthesia Statistics
Interviews, Oral Histories, and Presentations
Resources

Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine History Homepage
Department History
Department Statistics
Department Members and Annual Past Meetings
- Highlighted Department Members
- Annual Past Meetings
The Mayo Clinic & Military Anesthesia
- Mayo Clinic Military Anesthesia Statistics
Interviews, Oral Histories, and Presentations
Resources

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

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

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 anesthesia.

pictured: Edith Graham Mayo in nursing school, 1887.

1889, September 30

Saint Marys Opens

Saint Marys Opens

Saint Marys Hospital opens its doors in Rochester, MN.

pictured: Drawing of first hospital building. c. 1880

1894

Alice Magaw

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 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 Opens

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester “officially” opens its doors.

pictured: 1914 Building with cars in people in front. 1924.

1920, September

Dr. Gaston Labat

Dr. Gaston Labat

Dr. Louis Gaston Labat arrives at the 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 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

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., undated

1924, April 1

Lundy Joins Mayo Clinic

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. c.1930.

1926

Balanced Anesthesia

Balanced Anesthesia

Dr. Lundy introduces the term “balanced anesthesia”.

pictured: Tray of equipment used by anesthesiologists. c.1930s.

1929, December 16 - 19

Anesthetists’ Travel Club

Anesthetists’ Travel Club

The Anesthetists’ Travel Club is founded by Dr. Lundy and holds its inaugural meeting.

pictured: Original members of the Anesthetists’ Travel Club, 1929

1931

Section Renamed

Section Renamed

The section is renamed the “Section on Anesthesia”.

pictured: Aerial view of campus from the east. 1931

1932

Ventilation Innovation

Ventilation Innovation

Dr. Lundy develops a prototype for mechanical ventilation of the lungs of anesthetized subjects.

pictured: Mechanical Ventilation Monitor. nd

1933

Section Renamed, Again

Section Renamed, Again

The section is renamed the “Section on Anesthesia and Intravenous Medication”.

pictured: Aerial view of Saint Marys Hospital from the south. c. 1930

1934

Renamed, Once More

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. c. 1930

1935

New Intravenous Agent

New Intravenous Agent

Dr. Lundy proposes that the sodium pentothal is safe and the intravenous anesthetic agent of choice.

pictured: Pentothal Sodium. nd

1935

Storage Innovations

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 Dr. John Lundy, Dr. Albert Faulconer, Harriet Cronk, Norren Robins, and Helen Romness. 1951

1937

Anesthesia Abstracts

Anesthesia Abstracts

Anesthesia Abstracts begins being published by Florence McQuillen and Dr. Lundy.

1938

ABA Incorporated

American Board of Anesthesiology is incorporated as a sub-board of the American Board of Surgery.

1940

AMA Approves Section

The American Medical Association approves that a Section on Anesthesia is to be formed.

1940, July

Journal Published

The first volume of Anesthesiology is published.

1941

Board Independence

The American Board of Anesthesiology is approved as an independent primary board from the American Board of Surgery.

1942

Postgraduate Expansion

Postgraduate Expansion

The 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

Textbook Publication

Dr. Lundy publishes the textbook Clinical Anesthesia.

pictured: John S. Lundy, M.D. 1950

1944

Section Renamed

Section Renamed

The section is renamed the “Section on Anesthesiology and Intravenous Therapy”.

pictured: Mayo Clinic Section of Anesthesiology. 1947

1950

Needle Modernization

Needle Modernization

Dr. David J. Massa publishes a paper describing the construction of the first modern plastic needle.

1952

Dr. Richard Adams

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

Travel Club Final Meeting

The last meeting of the Anesthetists’ Travel Club is held in Rochester, Minnesota.

pictured: Anesthetists’ Travel Club Final Dinner at the Kahler Hotel

1953

Dr. Faulconer Appointed

Dr. Faulconer Appointed

Dr. Albert Faulconer Jr. is appointed as the new head of the section.

pictured: Albert Faulconer, M.D.

1954, October 21-22

Travel Club Reorg

Travel Club Reorg

The Anesthetists’ Travel Club is reorganized as the Academy of Anesthesiology, and the first meeting is held in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1955

Mayo-Gibbon Machine

Mayo-Gibbon Machine

First clinical trial of the Mayo-Gibbon vertical screen heart-lung machine.

pictured: Heart-Lung bypass machine. 1955

1962

Section Renamed

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 Centennial

The Mayo Clinic celebrates its Centennial Anniversary.

pictured: The Mayo Centennial Year 1964 Seal

1964

NAEC Formed

NAEC Formed

The Nurse Anesthesia Education Committee is formed.

pictured: Nurse Anesthetists pin. 1982

1965

Dr. Virginia Hartridge

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

Dr. Kai Rehder joins the ICU at Saint Marys Hospital.

pictured: Kai Rehder, M.D., undated

1969

Neuroanesthesia

Neuroanesthesia

Neuroanesthesia article is published which led to the Mayo Clinic being recognized as the birthplace of the subspeciality of Neuroanesthesia.

pictured: View of neurosurgery operation. c. 1960s

1970

Department Formation

Department Formation

The section becomes a department, along with the rest of the sections in medicine and surgery at the Mayo Clinic.

pictured: Residents from the Department of Anesthesiology. 1977

1970

Robert R. Johnson

Robert R. Johnson

Robert Johnson, CRNA, is appointed the first program director of the nurse anesthesia program.

1971

Dr. Richard Theye

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

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

Inhalational Therapy School opens.

pictured: Inhalation therapists. Undated

1973

1st RT Graduates

1st RT Graduates

The first class of respiratory therapists graduate from their clinical training at the Mayo Clinic.

pictured: Respiratory Therapy Class of 1981

1974

Pain Clinic

Pain Clinic

The Department of Anesthesiology at the Mayo Clinic establishes the pain clinic.

pictured: Simulator for ultrasound education that is commonly used in pain clinics. 2011

1975

Accreditation

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

Dr. Alan Sessler becomes the new chair of the department.

pictured: Alan D. Sessler, M.D., undated

1981

Critical Care Service

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. c. 1980s

1984

New Division Formed

New Division Formed

Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology is formed at Saint Marys Hospital.

pictured: Cardiovascular anesthesia equipment at Saint Marys Hospital. c. 1983

1986

Jacksonville Campus

Jacksonville Campus

The Mayo Clinic opens a clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

pictured: Aerial view of the Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus and the Davis Building

1987

Scottsdale Campus

Scottsdale Campus

The Mayo Clinic opens a clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

pictured: Aerial view of the Mayo Clinic’s Scottsdale campus

1989

Dr. Roy Cucchiara

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

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 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

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

Dr. Mark Warner becomes the new chair of the department.

pictured: Mark A. Warner, M.D., 2023

2006

Dr. Bradly Narr

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 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

Department Centennial

Centennial of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.

pictured: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Rochester. 2016

Department Timeline

Social Media