In honor of the critical role physician anesthesiologists play in patient care, the California State Assembly convened an Assembly Floor Session to recognize Anesthesiologists Week through Assembly Concurrent Resolution 122 (Ahrens). The resolution officially designated the week of January 25–February 1, 2026 as “Anesthesiologists Week” in California.
ACR 122 passed the Assembly Floor by unanimous vote, with 70 Assembly Members signing on as coauthors. The resolution highlights the extensive education and training of physician anesthesiologists, who complete between 12,000 and 16,000 hours of training before practicing independently. This rigorous preparation equips them to safely care for patients during more than 100 million surgical procedures and anesthetic encounters performed annually in the United States.
Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens (D–Silicon Valley), who introduced ACR 122, emphasized the essential role anesthesiologists play across the continuum of care, noting their presence in operating rooms, delivery rooms, intensive care units, pain management settings, and emergency and critical care environments.
He also highlighted the profession’s ongoing leadership in patient safety, stating that anesthesiologists continue to take proactive steps to promote patient safety in all healthcare settings while advancing education on pain management, safe opioid use, and non-opioid alternatives for pain control.
Following the unanimous vote, Assembly leadership welcomed CSA physician leaders and members to the Assembly Chamber in recognition of Anesthesiologists Week and their continued service to patients across the state.
Thank you to the following CSA members who attended the special day: Drs. Christina Menor, Mark Thoma, Todd Primack, Christine Doyle, Sydney Thomson, Robin Seaberg, Patrick Farmer, Christian Bohringer, Aaron Alokozai (UC Davis Resident), Prabdit Sidhu (UC Davis Resident), and Neema Meoini-Rastegar (UC Davis Resident).
