Etsuro Motoyama MD, PhD

Has been awarded the 2003 Robert M. Smith Award for lifetime achievement in Pediatric Anesthesia from the Society of Pediatric Anesthesiology.

I am pleased to announce that Etsuro Motoyama of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is the recipient of this year's Robert M. Smith Award for lifetime achievement in Pediatric Anesthesia at the spring meeting of the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia in Fort Myers. Dr. Motoyama completed a pediatric anesthesia fellowship in 1961 at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Boston (presently named Children’s Hospital Boston), Harvard University under the direction of Dr. Robert M. Smith. In 1964 he moved to Yale University School of Medicine where he continued his research in fetal and neonatal lung development. In 1979 Dr. Motoyama came to Pittsburgh to establish a research infrastructure for the department. He was Vice Chairman for Research from 1982-1989. Dr. Motoyama’s research studies in Pittsburgh have focused on developmental mechanics and patho-biology of the lungs, and the effects of anesthesia on respiration in infants and children.

He is a tenured Professor of Anesthesiology. In accepting the award Dr. Motoyama stated: “It is a great honor especially since, as a pediatric anesthesiologist, I was particularly grateful to Bob Smith, who trained me at Boston Children's Hospital four decades ago, and has been a close friend ever since. He was extremely pleased (I was the first awardee among his former fellows) and sent a long congratulatory message to be read by Peter Davis, the past president of SPA, at the award ceremony.”

The Robert M. Smith Award is the highest honor conferred on a Pediatric Anesthesiologist for recognition in advancing the field of Pediatric Anesthesiology in the following ways:

Concern with child's response to anesthesia and surgery;
Extend capabilities of pediatric surgery through development of increased skills
to decrease the morbidity and mortality and suffering of children undergoing surgery;
To improve resuscitation and support therapy for infants and children;
To broaden educational and investigational aspects of pediatric anesthesia.

Sivam Ramanathan, MD

Has been awarded the 2003 Nils Loefgren Award for Distinguished Service to Obstetric Anesthesia by the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP).

Dr. Ramanathan is a tenured Professor of Anesthesiology. He is an alumnus of the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India. He did his anesthesiology training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1971-1974) in New York, where he trained with the legendary Obstetric Anesthesiologist, Gertie Marx. Prior to his arrival to Pittsburgh in 1992 he was director of OB Anesthesia at New York University Medical Center from 1979 to his departure in 1992, and has been the author of over 100 publications in the field and related fields.

In 1941, Nils Lofgren, a Swedish research chemist, synthesized the compound that later became XYLOCAINE, better known as lidocaine, which today remains an important local anesthetic in dental and medical treatment. XYLOCAINE was developed by Astra AB of Sweden and is marketed in the United States by Astra Zeneca LP, the organization that has been presenting the Nils Lofgren award annually since 1990.

Peter Safar, MD, Dr. Honoris Causa (Mainz)

Peter Safar was conferred an honorary doctorate by the University of Pittsburgh at the University of Pittsburgh Honors Convocation, held at the Carnegie Museum Music Hall, Pittsburgh, February 28, 2003.

Dr. Safar is Distinguished Service Professor of Resuscitation Medicine and founding Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology. He was honored for his great achievements in Medicine. Among Dr. Safar’s many accomplishments Chancellor Nordenberg mentioned, in particular, his pioneering work in the development of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), which he expanded to include Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation (CPCR), his initiation of the first Ambulance service (The Hill District’s ‘Freedom’ House Ambulance Service) in the early 70’s in city of Pittsburgh, which simultaneously established him as a pioneer in the delivery of pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services and a civil rights activist, and the development of the field of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Safar’s achievements also include pioneering work in Disaster Reanimatology and Peace Medicine. In his characteristic style Dr. Safar delivered an excellent acceptance speech entitled: ‘Thoughts About Academe and Humanism’, where he, among other things, derided the business approach to health care characterized by “mismanaged care”, stressed the need for a more humanistic approach to medicine, and the urgency of establishing a more equitable health care system in this country.

Ernesto A. Pretto, Jr., MD, MPH

Received the 2002 Save-a-Life Foundation Award of Excellence, “for dedication to the advancement and enhancement of emergency medicine to the world community, especially in times of major disasters.”

Dr. Pretto is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology. He is a 1977 graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Panama, Republic of Panama. He did his internship at the Gorgas US Army Hospital in the Former Canal Zone, Panama, and
Completed anesthesiology training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York (1981-1983). He came to Pittsburgh in 1983 for a Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine with Ake Grenvik and Peter Safar. Dr. Pretto’s interest in Disaster Medicine came about through his work with Dr. Peter Safar, a pioneer in disaster reanimatology. Dr. Pretto is former Treasurer and business manager for the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, which was headquartered at the Safar Center (1994-1999).
The Save a life Foundation (SALF) is a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to the promotion and training of Life Supporting First Aid (LSFA) and educating the public about emergency preparedness. Previous award winners have been Drs. Harry Heimlich and Peter Safar.