McLeod Anesthesiologist Receives Outstanding Achievement Award

McLEOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 16 JUNE 2017

Dr. Robert M. Savage, a McLeod Anesthesiologist, accepts the American Society of Echocardiography 2017 Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Echocardiography Award during the 28th Annual Scientific Sessions held in Baltimore, Maryland.

Robert M. Savage, MD, FACC, an Anesthesiologist with the McLeod Heart and Vascular Institute, recently received the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 2017 Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Echocardiography Award at their 28th Annual Scientific Sessions held in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Savage received the award for his significant clinical, research, and/or educational contributions to the field of perioperative echocardiography.

Dr. Savage’s career has been dedicated to developing the field of perioperative echocardiography which enables physicians to visualize the chambers of the heart, its valves, and the major connecting vessels. He has a unique perspective on echocardiography from the specialties of both cardiology and anesthesiology. He also pioneered echo’s role in emergency ECMO and ventricular assist insertion, and he directed the emergency response teams throughout Cleveland Clinic for many years.

Dr. Dan Fox, a McLeod Anesthesiologist, is honored to work alongside Dr. Savage. “He transformed the use of echocardiography in the operating room during cardiac surgery. This leap forward in Cardiac Anesthesia was only a vision of Dr. Savage’s until he teamed up with highly regarded Cleveland Clinic Cardiologist Dr. Bill Stewart to learn this new discipline.

“Dr. Savage and a handful of other physicians than established standards for National Board Certification in Perioperative Echocardiography, and spent 20 years teaching courses across the United States that ultimately improved cardiac surgery care delivered to patients. Thanks to him, this skill is now a recognized, required standard for cardiac anesthesiologists and just 25 years ago it didn’t exist.”

Dr. Fox added that Dr. Savage is very deserving of this lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Echocardiography. “He is the most recognized name in cardiac anesthesia. He actually edited the definitive textbook on perioperative echocardiography in cardiac surgery,” explained Dr. Fox.

“When we were working to enhance our valve surgery program about 13 years ago, Dr. Savage and one of his colleagues came to McLeod and taught a valve conference for us,” said Dr. Fox. “When he retired from the Cleveland Clinic, his wife Cheri wanted to move south and he remembered his friends at McLeod. After a little encouragement from one of our cardiothoracic surgeons, Dr. Mike Carmichael, Dr. Savage decided to join our team with the McLeod Heart and Vascular Institute in 2016.”

Dr. Savage is an Emeritus Faculty of Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and retired Vice-Chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology. He is also a retired Captain of the United States Navy, and he served in the Medical Corps from 1972 to 2001.

Dr. Savage received his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, and completed an internship at the Naval Regional Medical Center in San Diego, California. Additionally, he completed a residency, cardiology fellowship, anesthesiology residency, and fellowship in pain management at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. His fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesia and advanced echocardiography was completed at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Savage has published more than 55 articles and nearly 50 textbook chapters. He has also edited four textbooks and 15 educational DVDs. In addition to his role at McLeod, he is privileged to serve with a team dedicated to teaching young doctors in China. Dr. Savage has served on ASE’s Board of Directors, and he was one of the founding members of the ASE Council on Perioperative Echocardiography.

The ASE Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Echocardiography Award is awarded to recognize a physician who is at the academic level of Associate Professor or Professor; who has achieved significant clinical, research and/or education in the field of perioperative echocardiography; has been recognized at the regional, national and international levels; and is a fellow of the ASE and/or NBE Diplomate of the National Board of Echocardiography (NBE).