The New York State Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. (NYSSA)

On October 6, 1905, nine physician-anesthetists, whose particular interests centered on anesthetics, met at Long Island College Hospital at the invitation of Dr. A. Frederick Erdmann for the purpose of “promoting the art and science of anesthesia.” From this small group came the Long Island Society of Anesthetists and it was this organization that gave rise to organized anesthesia in the United States and its present body, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

As interest in anesthetics and the scientific sessions of the new society grew throughout those first years, so did the need to broaden the scope of membership. On October 28, 1911 at the New York Academy of Medicine, located at 40 East 41st Street in Manhattan, the name of the society was changed to the New York Society of Anesthetists. On February 7, 1912, their new constitution reiterated the precepts of its founders for “the advancement of the science and art of Anesthesia…”

Mission:
The New York State Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. (NYSSA), is an organization of physicians and scientists dedicated to advancing the specialty of anesthesiology and providing the safest and highest quality patient care to the citizens of New York State.

History of the PGA:
The New York State Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc., launched the first PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesiology on December 13, 1945 in New York City’s Hotel Pennsylvania.

Originally, the PGA was to be a biennial meeting. Thus, the second PGA was not held until 1947, and the venue was changed to the New Yorker Hotel. However, the New York State Section of the American Society of Anesthesiologists had just organized and the PGA functioned as its annual meeting.