ASRA was officially “re-founded” in 1975, led by Alon P. Winnie, MD, who had a dream of a society devoted to teaching regional anesthesia. (An earlier group of the same name was founded in 1923 as a tribute to Gaston Labat.) ASRA recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary. On this occasion, ASRA founding fathers and former presidents reflected on 40 years of advancing the science and practice of regional anesthesia and pain medicine in a series of videos, including an interview with the late P. Prithvi Raj. For more information on the history of ASRA, download our 40th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet.
Awards and Honors
ASRA recognizes the best and brightest in the field through our Awards Program, which includes the Distinguished Service Award, Gaston Labat Award, John J. Bonica Award, Resident/Fellow of the Year Award, and Presidential Scholar Award. We also offer four research grants to individuals conducting research in the fields of regional anesthesia and pain medicine.
Special Interest Groups
Special interest groups exist to provide a subset of ASRA members the opportunity to organize for the purpose of sharing mutual interests in a specific area of regional anesthesiology, acute pain medicine, and/or chronic pain medicine.
ASRA Committees
ASRA Committee membership offers an opportunity to contribute to the administration, development, and implementation of ASRA programs and services, network with your fellow colleagues, and become a leader in the Society. Members are invited to submit nominations in September of each year for most committees, with terms beginning at the close of the Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting the following spring. Self-nominations are permitted.
