John Williams, M.D. is chair of the department of anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh. He has been on the faculty since 1998 following seven years at UCLA where he was associate professor of clinical anesthesiology, director of cardiothoracic anesthesiology and co-director of surgical intensive care medicine. Prior to that he spent nine years on the faculty at the University of Texas Medical School, where he received the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award on a number of occasions.
Dr. Williams’ research interests include the use of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers for the possible prevention and/or improvement of acute anemia in patients with acute blood loss following either surgery or trauma. This would be particularly helpful for patients who are undergoing elective cardiovascular or neurosurgical procedures.
Dr. Williams is also interested in the role of the sympathetic nervous system in promoting or aggravating coronary artery disease and the use of epidural anesthesia in the chest region for the prevention and improvement of oxygen shortages in the heart.
He has published more than 30 abstracts on topics ranging from cardiovascular surgical issues to general anesthetic principles for space travel. He has authored or co-authored 15 referred articles in journals including Anesthesiology. He also edited the textbook Postoperative Management of the Cardiac Surgical Patient.
Dr. Williams is board certified in anesthesiology and critical care medicine and is a diplomate in the American Academy of Pain Management. Since 1994 he has been a member of the Analgesic Guidelines Committee of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. He is an active member in the Pennsylvania Medical Society at many levels.
Dr. Williams received his medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his internship at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, Texas and his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and a fellowship at Guy’s Hospital in London, England. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Texas A & M University.
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