American Society of Anesthesiologists Announces CEO Retirement and Succession Plan 

CHICAGO – The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) announced that Paul Pomerantz, FACHE, chief executive officer, plans to retire at the end of his contract in April 2024.  

“On behalf of ASA’s Board of Directors, Senior Team, and more than 56,000 members, we want to thank Paul for his extraordinary leadership and impact over the decade he has led the Society,” said ASA President Michael W. Champeau, M.D., FAAP, FASA. “Always a strategic leader, Paul has played an enormous role in transforming ASA by implementing successful member-facing programs and initiatives as well as a renewed focus on strategic planning, including the creation of strategic pillars to align key initiatives throughout the organization.” 

During his nearly 11 years at ASA, he modernized the Society by implementing best practices in association management. Specifically, Paul drove improved member experience and satisfaction through enhanced resources in educational and professional development, practice and quality advancement, public policy and advocacy. He effectively grew membership to more than 56,500 and improved ASA’s financial performance to achieve more than $50 million in annual revenue. His focus on organizational culture led ASA to be selected as a Best and Brightest Companies to Work For^® in the Nation, and Chicago, six years running, 2017-2022. Paul worked to facilitate ASA’s leadership and engagement in the health care ecosystem, including development of joint programs and issues-based coalitions with leading associations representing health systems, medical specialties, and patient interests.   

“It has been inspiring to work with ASA’s dedicated physician leaders to address anesthesiology’s most daunting challenges and greatest opportunities, and to observe first-hand the specialty’s growing influence in the health care ecosystem,” Pomerantz said. “No specialty, in my experience, is as committed to innovation, quality care, and patient safety.”  

Outside of ASA, Paul is active in health care and professional leadership. He currently serves as immediate past chair of Association Forum and as treasurer for the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS). In addition to serving on various Association Forum committees and advisory groups—including the Healthcare Collaborative Advisory Committee and the Public Policy Advisory Council—Paul served on Forum’s Board for six years (since 2017); two years as a director prior to being elected to Secretary-Treasurer, Chair- Elect, Chair and Immediate Past Chair, respectively.

Paul successfully served as Board Chair in 2021-2022—a year in which he helped lead the organization during the triple pandemic (COVID, Economy and Society) and played an integral role in Association Forum’s CEO Search. Association Forum is thankful for his service over the years.

In recent years, he served as chair of the Center for Association Leadership (ASAE Foundation) and treasurer of the National Health Council (NHC). He also served as chair of ASAE Business Services, Inc., and chair of the ASAE Power of A committee. 

ASA President Dr. Champeau will establish an Ad Hoc Committee on CEO Search to begin the search for ASA’s next chief executive officer and to ensure an appropriate succession plan is in place for a smooth transition for ASA’s members and staff. 

About the American Society of Anesthesiologists 
Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 56,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology. ASA is committed to ensuring physician anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of patients before, during and after surgery to provide the highest quality and safest care every patient deserves. 

For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org. To learn more about the role physician anesthesiologists play in ensuring patient safety, visit asahq.org/madeforthismoment. Like ASA on Facebook and follow ASALifeline on Twitter.