Meeting Reviews
Saturday Session I: AAP Robert M. Smith Award Presentation
Reviewed by Debnath Chatterjee, MD, FAAP
@DabeChatter
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology,
Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
 |
Dr. Chatterjee |
The 2021 AAP Robert M. Smith awardee was Corrie Anderson, MD, FAAP, Professor of Anesthesiology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington School of Medicine.
After graduating A.B. Cum Laude from Harvard University, Dr. Anderson completed his medical school training at Stanford University School of Medicine. He returned to Boston to pursue a pediatrics residency at Boston Children’s Hospital, an anesthesiology residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. He was then recruited to the Department of Anesthesiology at UCLA School of Medicine, where he stayed until 2001 before moving to Seattle. He is married to his wife and soulmate, Virginia, and they have two very accomplished children, Virginia and Chase.
Dr. Anderson
Dr. Phil Morgan from Seattle Children’s Hospital highlighted several of Dr. Anderson’s accomplishments. He described Dr. Anderson as a tireless and dedicated teacher, a medical innovator, and a leader in pediatric pain management and pediatric regional anesthesia. Dr. Alice Coombs, who trained with Dr. Anderson, called him a “Force of Nature” for his transformative leadership and mentorship in the National Medical Association’s anesthesia section. Dr. Jeffrey Koh from Doernbecher Children’s Hospital remembered training as a pediatric pain fellow at UCLA under Dr. Anderson’s leadership. He described Dr. Anderson as an outstanding clinician, educator, and an amazing human being.
On behalf of several colleagues from Boston Children’s Hospital, Dr. Connie Houck paid tribute to Dr. Anderson and called him an “Unsung Hero.” She remembered Dr. Anderson’s invaluable contributions as an executive committee member of the AAP Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Dr. Thomas Mancuso from Boston Children’s Hospital told a story about how Dr. Anderson and his wife graciously welcomed Dr. Mancuso’s children at a Visiting Professorship dinner.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Anderson recited part of Ms. Amanda Gorman’s poem from the 2021 Presidential inauguration. He highlighted the values he learned from his parents, including bravery, fairness, persistence, and generosity. He said this award represents hope for other under-represented minorities so that they can participate as partners and equals, an acknowledgment for his love for teaching, and a commitment to improving the lives of children. He thanked several of his colleagues, mentors, and the AAP Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.
Reference:
- Flack S. A Tribute to Dr. Corrie Anderson for the 2021 AAP Robert M. Smith Award. AAP Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Newsletter Winter 2021. Page 4. https://downloads.aap.org/DOPCSP/AAP%20SOA%20News%20Winter_2021_FINAL.pdf.
