Eaton Takes Lead as Chair of Anesthesiology at URMC

Eaton Takes Lead as Chair of Anesthesiology at URMC

Michael P. Eaton, M.D., was named chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Rochester Medical Center after serving as interim chair for the past seven months. A faculty member since 1995, Eaton is also the executive director of Perioperative Services and director of the fellowship program in Cardiac Anesthesiology.  The appointment is official pending approval by the University Trustees.

Michael P. Eaton, M.D.,

The Medical Center’s foremost expert in cardiac anesthesia, Eaton leads a group of physicians that provides support for a wide range of heart surgeries in adults and children. Over the past 16 years his vast clinical knowledge has not only benefited patients, but trainees as well: Eaton developed the curriculum for and oversees resident rotations in cardiac anesthesia as well as the fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesia.

“After an extensive national search, Dr. Eaton easily emerged as the top candidate with the optimal skills to lead the Department of Anesthesiology into the future,” said Regis O’Keefe, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at the Medical Center and head of the search committee. “Dr. Eaton is a superb clinician with outstanding administrative experience and a strong history of collaboration. Most importantly, he has the tremendous confidence of all the members of his department in his commitment to patient care, education and research.”

“The Department of Anesthesiology at URMC is an outstanding group of clinicians, researchers and teachers whom it will be my pleasure to lead. We undoubtedly face an uncertain future over the next few years with the changes of healthcare reform, but I know I have a great department and a Medical Center leadership that will support us as we move forward,” said Eaton.

In line with his clinical expertise, Eaton’s research focuses on decreasing complications associated with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass machines, commonly known as heart-lung machines, which do the work of the heart and lungs when the heart is stopped for a surgical procedure. He is particularly interested in pediatric and neonatal cardiac procedures, as less is known about the use of the machines in this population and patients are at higher risk because their blood systems are still immature.

Eaton also has a strong interest in clinical information systems and served as a clinical advisor to the Medical Center’s eRecord team, helping ensure the perioperative portion of the hospital’s new electronic health records system was designed to best meet the needs of providers and patients.

An active member of several professional societies, Eaton was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, an international organization of more than 6,000 cardiac, thoracic and vascular anesthesiologists. He is a member of the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society and the American Heart Association as well.

Eaton earned his medical degree from Michigan State University and went on to complete his residency in anesthesiology from the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, followed by a fellowship in cardiac anesthesiology at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Eaton is married to Judy Roberts Eaton, R.N., M.S.N., who has been with the Medical Center for the past 33 years and currently works in the Pre-operative Evaluation Center.

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*  The above story is adapted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center

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