Five anesthesiologists made news in the last 60 days, from a new American Society of Anesthesiologists president to a $1.6 million whistleblower verdict and a U.S. Senate run.
1. The American Society of Anesthesiologists named Jeffrey Mueller, MD, its president and elected Jeffrey Jacobs, MD, first vice president Oct. 20 at its 2026 annual meeting in San Diego. Dr. Mueller is a staff anesthesiologist at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix and an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minn. He succeeds Patrick Giam, MD, and will serve a one-year term, according to an Oct. 20 news release.
2. Selwynn Howard, MD, a longtime Atlanta-area anesthesiologist, died Sept. 1 of cancer at age 60. Dr. Howard served as chair of the anesthesiology department at Piedmont Rockdale Hospital in Conyers, Ga., and spent nearly 20 years as a partner with Rockdale Anesthesia. He later founded At Your Service Anesthesia and served as its president and CEO.
3. Gary John Mullen, MD, CEO of Raleigh, N.C.-based Sovereign Anesthesiology Partners, joined Becker’s to discuss why his organization has stuck with medical direction despite workforce shortages, how it is preparing for rising case complexity and the one factor he believes should drive every ASC’s anesthesia strategy.
4. Anesthesiologist Ellis Richard “Rich” Clark, MD, won a $1.6 million whistleblower verdict against Northbank Surgical Center in Salem, Ore. The center fired him after he raised patient safety concerns. The case is now on appeal. Dr. Clark sued Salem Surgery Center, which operates as Northbank Surgical Center, in Marion County Circuit Court in April 2024. He sought $1.63 million. The suit also named SCA Health, which owns most of the center, and SCA Health’s parent company, Optum.
5. Mike Katz, MD, a pediatric anesthesiologist and former Democratic Delaware state lawmaker, won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Delaware on Sept. 15, 2026, setting up a November challenge to three-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Chris Coons. Dr. Katz represented Delaware in the state legislature from 2008 to 2012 before leaving the Democratic Party. He defeated retired Army Col. John Shulli in the Republican primary. Dr. Katz also ran for the Senate as an independent in 2024, drawing 4% of the vote.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
