April 4, 2025

The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is excited to announce three new members to its Board of Directors. These anesthesiology research leaders bring a wealth of knowledge as clinician-scientists, significant experience in community-building and remarkable passion for mentoring the next generation of anesthesia research scholars. The IARS would like to welcome new board members Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH from Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Jessica Spence, MD, PhD, from McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute, and Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD, from Medical College of Wisconsin. Drs. Shaefi and Spence began their terms following the IARS 2025 Annual Meeting and Dr. Freed will begin her role on July 1 after concluding her service as IARS Mentored Research Award Study Section chair.

Please join us in welcoming Drs. Shaefi, Spence and Freed to the IARS Board of Directors. We look forward to seeing all they will contribute to the organization and the global anesthesiology community.

	Read an Interview with Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH Vice chair of Professional Affairs for the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and co-director of ECMO Services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH, brings a well-rounded background as a cardiac anesthesiologist, intensivist and clinician-scientist with experience in basic, translational and clinical science. He offers a unique perspective and passion for patient-centered care that will greatly benefit the IARS Board as they guide the diverse community of clinician-scientists to advance the science and practice of medicine.
	Read an Interview with Jessica Spence, MD, PhD An assistant professor in the Departments of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Health Research Methodology, Evaluation, and Impact at McMaster University; and a scientist for Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Jessica Spence, MD, PhD, is passionate about advancing scientific knowledge. Her dedication to giving back to the specialty and commitment to mentoring the next generation will prove a boon for future IARS initiatives and continue to develop this valuable research community that initially attracted Dr. Spence to engage IARS back in 2018.
	Read an Interview with Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD Executive vice chair, ​an associate professor, and director of NIGMS STAT Program for the Department of Anesthesiology, and director of Clinical & Translational Research for the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD, will contribute a wealth of knowledge as an experienced physician-scientist. Her commitment to advancing the science of medicine and focus on developing the next generation will prove a major asset to all IARS endeavors in the future.

The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is excited to announce three new members to its Board of Directors. These anesthesiology research leaders bring a wealth of knowledge as clinician-scientists, significant experience in community-building and remarkable passion for mentoring the next generation of anesthesia research scholars. The IARS would like to welcome new board members Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH from Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Jessica Spence, MD, PhD, from McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute, and Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD, from Medical College of Wisconsin. Drs. Shaefi and Spence began their terms following the IARS 2025 Annual Meeting and Dr. Freed will begin her role on July 1 after concluding her service as IARS Mentored Research Award Study Section chair.

Please join us in welcoming Drs. Shaefi, Spence and Freed to the IARS Board of Directors. We look forward to seeing all they will contribute to the organization and the global anesthesiology community.

Read an Interview with Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH

Vice chair of Professional Affairs for the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and co-director of ECMO Services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH, brings a well-rounded background as a cardiac anesthesiologist, intensivist and clinician-scientist with experience in basic, translational and clinical science. He offers a unique perspective and passion for patient-centered care that will greatly benefit the IARS Board as they guide the diverse community of clinician-scientists to advance the science and practice of medicine.

Read an Interview with Jessica Spence, MD, PhD

An assistant professor in the Departments of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Health Research Methodology, Evaluation, and Impact at McMaster University; and a scientist for Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Jessica Spence, MD, PhD, is passionate about advancing scientific knowledge. Her dedication to giving back to the specialty and commitment to mentoring the next generation will prove a boon for future IARS initiatives and continue to develop this valuable research community that initially attracted Dr. Spence to engage IARS back in 2018.

Read an Interview with Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD

Executive vice chair, ​an associate professor, and director of NIGMS STAT Program for the Department of Anesthesiology, and director of Clinical & Translational Research for the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Julie K. Freed, MD, PhD, will contribute a wealth of knowledge as an experienced physician-scientist. Her commitment to advancing the science of medicine and focus on developing the next generation will prove a major asset to all IARS endeavors in the future.