Program

In 1909, Caroline Palmer established a physician-led anesthesia department at Cooper Medical College, a model that helped shape the field nationally. Following the medical school’s move to Palo Alto, leaders like William Neff and John Bunker built Stanford anesthesiology into one of the nation’s first independent departments, advancing residency training, clinical innovation, and research. 

Read more at the Stanford Historical Society 

Presentation by Dr. Jay Brodsky on the history of the department (March 5, 2025)