The American Society of Anesthesiologists presented Karsten Bartels, MD, PhD, with the 2023 James E. Cottrell Presidential Scholar Award on Oct. 16 in recognition of his outstanding career as a leading academic physician anesthesiologist and exemplary research to improve patient safety and outcomes in perioperative and critical care medicine and pain management.
The award is presented annually to a physician-scientist who has dedicated their early career to research while fulfilling other areas of responsibility related to their roles as faculty and clinicians.
“I feel truly humbled and incredibly grateful to be honored with this award,” Dr. Bartels said. “I will pay this forward to the next generation.”
Dr. Bartels is the Robert Lieberman Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology, vice chair of research and professor of anesthesiology at the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology. Additionally, he is the inaugural director of the Robert Lieberman Research Initiative within the department.
Dr. Bartels demonstrated his passion for research early in his career, studying the adverse effects of over-prescription of opioids following surgery, which eventually led to a K23 Mentored Scientist Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse.
By the end of his anesthesiology residency at the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Bartels had authored two research articles in Anesthesia & Analgesia, while also mastering the clinical skills necessary to be an anesthesiologist.
More recent accomplishments include a five-year R01 Award from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for more than $2 million to explore the efficiency and quality of postsurgical pain management. In 2022, he was listed in Stanford University’s annual assessment of the top 2% of all researchers in the world based on his work’s impact.
In addition to his research accomplishments, Dr. Bartels serves on multiple national-level committees, including as vice chair of the American Society for Anesthesia’s Abstract Review Subcommittee on Critical Care and the Abstract Review Subcommittee on Outcomes and Database Research. Most notably, he serves as the only anesthesiologist as a permanent member of the Healthcare Effectiveness and Outcomes Research study section for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Steven Lisco, MD, who until recently was department chair, said advancement in science and safety of anesthesiology and pain medicine is rarely a smooth or well-defined path. He applauded Dr. Bartels’ unwavering dedication and commitment.
Dr. Lisco said Dr. Bartels has an esteemed reputation as a clinician-scientist, but it is equally as significant that he amplifies his impact by empowering others to be successful.
“Congratulations to Dr. Bartels as the recipient of this prestigious award,” Dr. Lisco said. “I eagerly anticipate watching his career’s growth and impact on our specialty.”