The American Society of Anesthesiologists presented Karsten Bartels, MD, PhD, with the 2023 James E. Cottrell Presidential Scholar Award on Monday, 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.
Department Chair Steven Lisco, MD, said advancement in science and safety of anesthesiology and pain medicine is rarely a smooth or well-defined path and applauded Dr. Bartels’ unwavering dedication and commitment.
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.
Dr. Bartels said the culture at Massachusetts General Hospital was formative because incorporating research was an integral part of the department effort. “Being a part of a culture that continuously advances clinical care and education by conducting research was incredibly inspiring,” he said.
More recent accomplishments include a five-year R01 Award from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for over $2M 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.
UNMC Department of Anesthesiology Chair, Steven Lisco, MD, 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.
“Dr. Bartels has directly mentored more than 30 medical students, residents and early stage faculty to their first-ever peer-reviewed publication, and several have achieved research awards for their work under his tutelage,” Dr. Lisco said. “Despite still being relatively junior in his own career, he has shown significant commitment and tremendous success in advancing the careers of others.”
Dr. Bartels said he has been fortunate to have many impactful mentors throughout his career, from school, and university to post-graduate training, and he is deeply grateful to each of them.
Dr. Bartels also has served as an editor for the American Board of Anesthesiology’s written exam, editor of the textbook Hensley’s Practical Approach to Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, and a site mentor for the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship.
“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.”