James Rathmell, HMS professor of anesthesia and chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and vice chair of the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, has been named the first incumbent of the Henry Knowles Beecher Professorship in Anesthesia.
The Henry Knowles Beecher Professorship honors the career of a physician who has been both influential in the practice of anesthesiology and a pioneer in medical ethics and informed consent. Rathmell was honored with the professorship at a Gordon Hall ceremony June 7.
“James is an exceptional clinician, a dedicated researcher, an outstanding educator and a very deserving inaugural incumbent for this great honor,” said Jeffrey S. Flier, dean of HMS.
Rathmell’s clinical expertise and research focuses on the treatment of pain related to disorders of the spine. His professional time is devoted toward treating patients with acute, chronic and cancer-related pain. Rathmell has also dedicated his career to participating in activities that advance medical education, such as improving the training of physicians specializing in the field of pain medicine.
His research seeks to examine the effectiveness of new and emerging treatments for pain through a mixture of investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored trials. Many of his publications have involved critical appraisal of the safety and effectiveness of specific interventions used in pain medicine, and his work can be found in many textbooks.
Rathmell also lends his knowledge to a number of boards, including the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
This professorship was established by MGH, the Medical School’s longest-standing affiliate, and with gifts from patients, colleagues, family and friends of Henry Knowles Beecher.
