The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) presented Patricia Kapur with its 2019 Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her long and highly distinguished career as a physician anesthesiologist, administrator, and educator. The award is the highest honor ASA bestows and is presented annually to a member who has transformed the specialty of anesthesiology.

Dr. Kapur is a clinical professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Previously, she spent 17 years as chair of the department of anesthesiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) before rising to the role of executive vice president of the UCLA Health System, and CEO of the UCLA Faculty Practice Group.

During her 36 years as a member of ASA, Dr. Kapur has made countless contributions, including serving as chair of the Section on Education & Research for nine years, chairing the 2008 ASA annual meeting, and delivering the Rovenstine Lecture in 2011. She also was a longtime delegate to the ASA for the California Society of Anesthesiologists (CSA), where she was a member of the board of directors and took on roles including chair of the Educational Programs Division, assistant secretary and secretary. Dr. Kapur delivered the CSA’s Leffingwell Lecture in 2015 and was awarded the CSA Distinguished Service Award in 2017.

A true leader in anesthesiology, she served as president of the American Board of Anesthesiology and the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research; vice president of the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia; on the board of directors and executive committee of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation; as chair of the board of trustees of the International Anesthesia Research Society; and on the editorial board and as section editor of the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia.