Jerry A. Cohen, M.D. Installed as President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists

Jerry A. Cohen, M.D. was installed today as President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) during the association’s Annual Meeting. Dr. Cohen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Fla.

“I am honored to accept this new leadership position within ASA. I look forward to the work my fellow colleagues and I will focus on over the next year to expand and broaden the specialty of anesthesiology,” said Dr. Cohen. “As health care continues to evolve, so will the role of anesthesiologists. During my presidency, I have proposed that we create a standing committee to study the most effective future models of anesthesia practice to better help ASA members advance the practice and secure the future.”

A member of ASA since 1973, Dr. Cohen has served the Society in numerous roles. Most recently, he served as ASA President-Elect and on the ASA Executive Committee. Dr. Cohen also was Chair of the Section on Professional Standards and on the Board Committee on Professional Affairs for ASA, as well as President of the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists in 1995.

Involved in the medical community beyond ASA, Dr. Cohen was a physician for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Medical Support-Team from 1983 to 1988. At Shands Hospital, Dr. Cohen served on the Quality Committee of the Hospital Board of Directors from 1993 to 2000. He also was Associate Chief of Staff for Quality Management, Chair of the Sedation, Medical Records and Medical Care Evaluation Committees, Chair of the
Unit Chiefs, as well as a member of the Executive Committee. Dr. Cohen is currently on the Dean’s Quality Board at the University of Florida.

Dr. Cohen graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine and completed his internship, residency and fellowship at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in Atlanta. He is an expert in the complex specialty of transplant anesthesia.

Dr. Cohen and his wife, Sherry, live in Gainesville. They have three grown children: Tavi, an occupational therapist; Michael, a ballistic missiles systems engineer; and Marsha, a Ph.D. graduate student in Psychology. Outside of medicine, Dr. Cohen enjoys spending time with his four grandchildren and is an avid photographer.