Manuel L. Fontes, M.D.

POSITION TITLE: Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

Over my 27-year career as an educator, researcher, and clinician, I have had extensive experience with mentoring undergraduates and medical students, medical residents and fellows, and physician faculties at UCSF, Yale University School of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical, Duke Medicine, as well as Internationally.  In 1994, I joined the Department of Anesthesiology at Yale as an Assistant Professor.  Next I returned to Cornell, NY in 1999 as an Associate Professor and continued pursuing my academic and research interests. In 2011, I joined the Department of Anesthesiology at Duke Medical Center- maintaining an active research involvement and became the Director of Clinical Anesthesia Research Endeavor (CARE). Lastly, in 2015, I rejoined the Department of Anesthesiology at Yale with responsibilities as Chief of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Director of Clinical Research, Interim Division Chief of Pediatric Anesthesia, Director of Perfusion Services, and Director of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Fellowship.  As a junior faculty at Yale, I participated in research pursuits addressing inflammatory responses during and after cardiopulmonary bypass that led to many landmark publications. Examples include multicenter studies investigating effects of complement inhibition and clinical outcomes; C-reactive protein and atrial fibrillation; leukocytosis and atrial fibrillation.  I was a member of the notable Multicenter Study on Perioperative Ischemia (McSPI) research group for nearly 20 years.  Our group published in the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, circulation, Anesthesiology, etc; with several of them resulting in changes in Standard-of-Care worldwide (i.e. perioperative beta blockers, early aspirin use following CABG surgery, and discontinuation of Aprotinin use in cardiac and major vascular surgery). More recently, our research efforts have centered on platelets and other micro-thrombotic factors that exacerbate morbidity and mortality in the setting of major vascular procedures. 

I have also served 17 years in the military including being a war veteran and recognized with the following awards: Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Metal, National Defense Service Award, and Army Commendation Medal.  On the civilian side, I have also been fortunate to receive the following awards and recognitions: Member, Association of University Anesthesiologists, Best Doctors in America, Who’s Who in America, America’s Top Anesthesiologists, Section Editor – Cardiovascular Anesthesia; Current Opinion in Anesthesiology, Physician of the Year Award, NY Physician-of-year Award, and the President Citation Award, Society of Critical Care Medicine.  I have been affiliated with the following Professional Organizations: Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology (SCA), American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA), Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), American Society of Critical Care Anesthesiology, American Heart Association (AHA), American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), Association of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologist (ACA), and Society of Academic Anesthesia Associations (SAAA).  

I have published some 150 peers and non-peers reviewed manuscripts/ book-chapters/ abstracts, editorials, and case-reports as well as book editor; and have lectured worldwide as an invited scholar more than 100 times.  Lastly, over the past 25 years, I have participated in medical mission work in South and Central America, Russia, China, India, Vietnam, Cuba and Cabo Verde. For publications please refer to my curriculum vitae.