American Society of Anesthesiologists honors Robert E. Johnstone, M.D., FASA, with its Distinguished Service Award
SAN DIEGO — The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today presented Robert E. Johnstone, M.D., FASA, with its 2025 Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his enduring contributions to the specialty as an accomplished anesthesiologist, educator, researcher and advocate with a career spanning 60 years. The award is the highest honor ASA bestows and is presented annually to a member who has transformed the specialty of anesthesiology.
Before his retirement from full-time clinical practice in 2025, Dr. Johnstone served as professor of anesthesiology at West Virginia University in Morgantown, where he also chaired the Department of Anesthesiology for 16 years. Prior to joining the university, he was director of anesthesia at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center in South Carolina, Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan and the U.S. Army Aeromedical Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama. He also served with distinction as a full colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
Over the course of his career, he received recognition for a wide variety of accomplishments, including: first prize for ASA’s Resident Research Essay in 1974 and for ASA’s Art Exhibit (literature) in 2006, 2008 and 2009; the 2003 Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M-Device; the 2013 West Virginia University Dean’s Award for Excellence; and the 2016 Distinguished Service Award from the West Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists. He was also named one of the 100 Most Influential Citizens by the Dominion Post (Morgantown, West Virginia) in 2003, 2004 and 2009.
He is a researcher with more than 1,500 citations. He has given over 200 national presentations, and authored two books, 12 chapters, 63 peer-reviewed articles, 140 other publications and 1,200 newsletter articles.
Dr. Johnstone held numerous positions within ASA where he made significant contributions. He served as ASA’s vice president for professional affairs from 2007 to 2011 and was a long-standing member of the ASA Board of Directors having served for 23 years. In addition, he was secretary-treasurer for the West Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists from 2000 to 2025 and a trustee of the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology from 2013 to 2025. Outside of the Society and its affiliated organizations, he chaired the Board of Directors of University Health Associates from 2000 to 2002.
In 1998, he helped found, and then served as an inaugural member of, the ASA Committee on Practice Management. Over the course of five years as chair of this committee, he built the Conference on Practice Management, now known as ASA ® ADVANCE: The Anesthesiology Business Event, growing it from low attendance to more than 500 attendees and an annual event.
He has always been committed to advocating for the specialty. In 2007, he leveraged his personal relationship with then Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia to encourage the lawmaker to introduce, and ultimately pass, the Medicare Anesthesiology Teaching Funding Restoration Act, which led to the largest-ever increase in payment for academic anesthesiology professional services.
“Dr. Johnstone is immensely deserving of the Distinguished Service Award for his significant contributions to anesthesiology and to the Society. His commitment to education, research and advocacy has been unwavering over an astonishing 60-year career that began with presentations on anesthetic technology as an undergraduate,” said ASA President Patrick Giam, M.D., FASA. “During his final year in full-time clinical practice, he still found time to successfully lead advocacy efforts to defeat independent practice bills for anesthesia nurses in West Virginia for the seventh consecutive year.”
Dr. Johnstone received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University in Columbus. He completed his internship in internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati and completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He also completed courses in the U.S. Army in aviation medicine and the officer course. He attended Troy State University in Alabama, where he completed MBA courses.
The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually for outstanding clinical, educational or scientific achievement, contribution to the specialty and/or exemplary service to the Society. ASA’s House of Delegates establishes policies governing the selection of a recipient for the Distinguished Service Award.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 62,000 members organized to advance the medical practice of anesthesiology and secure its future. ASA is committed to ensuring anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of all patients before, during and after surgery. ASA members also lead the care of critically ill patients in intensive care units, as well as treat pain in both acute and chronic settings.
For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org . To learn more about how anesthesiologists help ensure patient safety, visit asahq.org/madeforthismoment . Join the #ANES26 conversation on social media. Follow ASA on Facebook , X , Instagram , Bluesky and LinkedIn .
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