The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine was founded in 1975, led by Alon P. Winnie, MD, who had a dream of a society devoted to teaching regional anesthesia.
Our Founding Fathers
L. Donald Bridenbaugh, MD (1923-2018)
Harold Carron, MD (1916-1991)
Jordan Katz, MD (1932-2014)
P. Prithvi Raj, MD (1931-2016)
Alon P. Winnie, MD (1932-2015)
L. Donald Bridenbaugh, MD
Harold Carron, MD
Jordan Katz, MD
P. Prithvi Raj, MD
Alon P. Winnie, MD
Anniversary Celebrations
In 2025, ASRA Pain Medicine celebrated its 50th Anniversary. View our commemorative video here.
An earlier group of the same name was founded in 1923 as a tribute to Gaston Labat. In 2023, ASRA Pain Medicine celebrated the 100th anniversary of this occasion.
In 2015, while celebrating the 40th anniversary of ASRA Pain Medicine's founding, several founding fathers and former presidents reflected on the history of the organization and the field. See these videos below and view the 40th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet.
Founding Father Dr. P. Prithvi Raj
Founding Father Dr. L. Donald Bridenbaugh, Jr.
Dr. Michael Stanton-Hicks, president from 1989-1990
Dr. Gale Thompson, president of ASRA from 1992-1993
Dr. Denise J. Wedel, president from 1997-1998
Dr. Brendan Finucane, president from 1998-1999
Dr. Stephen E. Abram, president from 1993-1994
Dr. Mark Lema, president from 2004-2005
Dr. Richard Rosenquist, president from 2005-2007
Dr. Vincent Chan, president from 2009-2011
ASRA Pain Medicine Presidents
1976-1980 Alon P. Winnie
1980-1982 L. Donald Bridenbaugh
1982-1984 Harold Carron
1984-1986 Phil Bromage
1986-1987 Prithvi Raj
1987-1988 Jordan Katz
1988-1989 Ben Covino
1989-1990 Michael Stanton-Hicks
1990-1991 Phil Bridenbaugh
1991-1992 Gerry Ostheimer
1992-1993 Gale Thompson
1993-1994 Stephen E. Abram
1994-1995 Cosmo DiFazio
1995-1996 Manni Batra
1996-1997 John Rowlingson
1997-1998 Denise Wedel
1998-1999 Brendan Finucane
1999-2000 Dave Brown
2000-2001 Mike Mulroy
2001-2002 Lynn Broadman
2002-2003 Jim Eisenach
2003-2005 Terre Horlocker
2005-2007 Rick Rosenquist
2007-2009 Mike Ferrante
2009-2011 Vincent Chan
2011-2012 Julie Pollock
2012-2015 Joe Neal
2015-2017 Oscar deLeon
2017-2019 Asokumar Buvanendran
2019-2021 Eugene Viscusi
2021-2023 Samer Narouze
2023-2025 David Provenzano
2025-2027 Steven P. Cohen