Alumni Establish New Early-Career Professorship in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

While Shields Research Day is always a highlight on the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine’s annual calendar, this year’s event was especially memorable thanks to an announcement from Department Chair, Dr. Beverley Orser.

At the close of her remarks to faculty, staff and learners, Orser shared that Dr. Hal Marryatt and his partner John Alchin have generously established a new early-career professorship in the Department. Marryatt and Alchin are both U of T alumni and previously supported the creation of the Department’s Dr. Alan K. Laws Award.

“I’m so pleased that John and Hal are once again investing in our Department and the incredible talent of our clinician-scientists,” said Orser. “This new professorship will be awarded to a faculty member within the first five years of their career for a five-year term to ensure they have the time and resources that are necessary to begin and succeed in a career in academic medicine. This professorship supports a very critical transition in the life of an investigator between being a trainee and evolving into an independent scientist.”

Thanks to Shields Day’s virtual format, Marryatt and Alchin were then able to join the event’s web broadcast from their home in Philadelphia to say a few words.

“We are so grateful to have this opportunity to make a meaningful gesture towards an institution to which we owe a great deal,” said Marryatt, with Alchin at his side. “We believe in supporting people on their way up. We are thrilled to be able to support someone who will hopefully build a career on a foundation we’ve been able to supply.”

Watch the full video of Orser’s announcement here.