Friedrich Appointed UC Chair of Anesthesiology

CINCINNATI -- Andrew Friedrich, MD, has been appointed chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The appointment is effective immediately and has been approved by the UC Board of Trustees.

A professor of anesthesiology, Friedrich joined the Department of Anesthesiology in 2005 and has been the vice chairman for perioperative and critical care medicine since 2012.

"I am very excited that Dr. Friedrich has agreed to lead our Department of Anesthesiology and am certain he will further the excellent patient care, education and research strengths of the department," said William Ball, MD, senior vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine. "I cannot think of a better person to take the helm in Anesthesiology at this time where outcomes have become a dominant part of our success. I have full confidence that Dr. Friedrich will help take the department and college to the next level as an indispensable part of this community."

Friedrich is a staff anesthesiologist and critical care physician at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he created the Center for Perioperative Care and has served as co-director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. He is board certified in anesthesiology, critical care medicine and perioperative echocardiography. Additionally, he serves as associate director of clinical quality for the UC Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute.

Friedrich received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1995. He completed a residency in anesthesiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in 1999, a fellowship in critical care medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2000 and a fellowship in cardiac anesthesiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2001.

Actively involved in education and quality improvement, Friedrich has published articles in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Critical Care Medicine and Anesthesia and Analgesia, and has served as a reviewer for Anesthesiology. He won the Teacher of the Year Award at both the College of Medicine (2006 and 2011) and at Brigham and Women's Hospital (2002). He is a founding member of the Society for Preoperative Assessment and Quality Improvement, and has won awards from the Joint Commission and Blue Cross/Blue Shield for quality improvement work at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. 

Friedrich replaces Leonard Lind, MD, professor of anesthesiology, who became interim chair in January following the departure of William Hurford, MD, who left to become Chief Medical Officer of UC Health after 12 years of leading the department.