American Society of Anesthesiologists

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an association of physicians (primarily anesthesiologists) whose stated goal is to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and improve the care of the patient.

Founded in 1905 as Long Island Society of Anesthetists by a group of nine colleagues meeting in the Long Island College Hospital, the society changed its name to New York Society of Anesthetists in 1911. In 1935 the society became known as American Society of Anesthetists and moved into rent-free accommodation in the E. R. Squibb & Sons building in New York City, shared with Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology. The association assumed its current in 1945 and moved its headquarters to Chicago in 1947. The society later moved to its current location of Park Ridge, Illinois, constructing purpose-built offices in 1960 and 1992. It now maintains a second office in Washington, D.C. to house its Office of Governmental and Legal Affairs.

As of 2006 the organization has over 40,000 members and 51 full-time employees.