n late February, I, as ASA Secretary, was notified by the Membership Department at ASA headquarters in Park Ridge, Illinois, that ASA had set all-time membership records in both the total and active membership categories. As of February 28, 2005, total ASA membership was 40,031, and the active member category was 25,105. I thought it was important to share this great news with you as well as a bit of membership history (see below).

The embryo that was to become ASA started 100 years ago when nine professional colleagues from Long Island, New York, met to discuss the science of anesthesiology and to organize the first professional anesthesiology society. By 1911 this Society had expanded to 23 members and named itself the New York Society of Anesthetists. In 1936 the Society had 487 members, and because of the diverse geographical distribution of its members, elected to change its name to the American Society of Anesthetists. The dues were $5 (no credit cards accepted!). By 1943 the Society membership had topped 1,000, and in 1945, the Society made its last name change to the American Society of Anesthesiologists; its membership rolls had increased to more than 2,000.

The first component societies (Minnesota and Kentucky) were chartered in 1947. By the end of 1948, a total of 30 component societies had been chartered, with a total membership of 2,795. Between the end of 1949 and the end of 1955, 12 additional components were chartered. Membership had grown to more than 5,000 members. In 1969, with a total of 42 state components, the Society membership had reached the 10,000-member level.

In the early 1980s residents became ASA members, and in 1983, total membership went over 20,000. Ten years later, in 1990, ASA showed its pride and confidence in its residents by chartering a separate ASA Resident Component. This move was a testament to how important residents were to the “ASA family” from the beginning of their training. Shortly after, in 1991, membership passed the 30,000 mark. In 2003 every state plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia had its own component, and ASA expressed its commitment to military anesthesiologists by chartering the Uniformed Services Society of Anesthesiologists (USSA).

Now it is 2005, and we are 40,000-strong with 55 component societies and going boldly into the next 100 years as advocates for our patients and their safety. In addition we are charged with the continuing responsibility of advancing the science and practice of anesthesiology, intensive care, pain management and, maybe more important, the perioperative practice of medicine.

ASA membership has increased every year since 1935 to our current level of more than 40,000 by the hard work of everyone. Well done to all, and may you each enjoy a magnificent journey in our wonderful profession!

Peter L. Hendricks, M.D., is a staff anesthesiologist at Medical Center East, Birmingham, Alabama.