Congratulations to Dr. Gunisha Kaur on Her Appointment to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

July 1, 2026

The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) would like to congratulate Gunisha Kaur, MD, MA, on her appointment to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and simultaneously announce her resignation from the FAER Board of Directors. While the Foundation is sad to no longer benefit from Dr. Kaur’s leadership, we are thrilled for her to take on this exciting new position and look forward to hearing of her success in the role.

The USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad. Dr. Kaur is the first Sikh leader to serve on the USCIRF and was recommended for the two-year appointment by U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

A participant in the FAER’s Resident Scholar Program (RSP) in 2012 and recipient of a Research in Education Grant (REG) in 2016, Dr. Kaur served as a member of the Board of Directors from 2023 through her resignation in May 2026. During her time on the Board, she volunteered her time and insights on the Academic Pathways and Development Committees, helping guide FAER’s work to bolster the pathway for medical students and residents to pursue anesthesiology research and the Foundation’s fundraising efforts in pursuit of its mission to develop the next generation of physician-investigators.

We hope you will join us in thanking Dr. Kaur for her contributions to FAER, anesthesiology, and research, and congratulating her on this exciting next step on her journey as she begins her work with the USCIRF. We encourage you to read the official announcement of Dr. Kaur’s appointment on Senator Schumer’s website here.

THE FOUNDATION FOR ANESTHESIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (FAER)
FAER is a related foundation of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). For 40 years, FAER has been dedicated to developing the next generation of physician-investigators in anesthesiology. Charitable contributions and support to FAER help fuel the future of anesthesiology through scientific discovery. Funding priorities include: Research, Education, and Training. At the time of this article's publication, FAER has awarded more than $63 million in research grants and programs since 1986. To donate to FAER, visit FAER.org/donate.