Advancing Perioperative Medicine: A Multistakeholder Perspective

Abstract

Perioperative medicine spans the entire surgical care continuum, improving patient outcomes while reducing morbidity and mortality. Anesthesiology is uniquely positioned to influence the continued development of perioperative medicine. Recognizing this opportunity, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (Schaumburg, Illinois) established the Center for Perioperative Medicine as an organizational framework to actively implement perioperative medicine. Whereas earlier efforts focused on why anesthesiology must evolve, the Center emphasizes how the specialty is advancing through rigorous, inclusive collaboration. Building on previous initiatives, the Center for Perioperative Medicine is a multidisciplinary partnership including anesthesiologists, surgeons, hospitalists, and other specialists, and incorporates both national and global perspectives. This article describes how perioperative medicine is characterized across clinical, educational, research, and leadership domains; summarizes key themes from discussions at the 2024 and 2025 Stakeholder Summits; highlights areas of convergence and variation across global viewpoints; and situates these perspectives within the evolving landscape of perioperative medicine practice worldwide today collectively.