Navil Sethna MBchB, 2023 Robert M. Smith Award Winner

Myron Yaster MD

I am reposting this PAAD to enable all who are attending SPA’s annual meeting tomorrow to celebrate Dr. Navil Sethna’s amazing career. Myron Yaster MD

For me, one of the highlights of SPA’s spring meeting occurs on the Friday of the meeting when the AAP’s Robert M. Smith award is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of pediatric anesthesiology.  The award is named for Dr. Robert Smith, often considered, the “father of pediatric anesthesia”. He was one of the earliest American pioneers in pediatric anesthesiology, wrote and edited one of the first textbooks of pediatric anesthesia and was anesthesiologist-in-chief at the Boston Children’s Hospital from 1946-1980. 

I am so happy, really thrilled, that this year’s Smith award winner is Navil Sethna MBchB of the Boston Children’s Hospital.  Dr. Sethna is the Clinical Director, Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center; Senior Associate in Pain Medicine and Perioperative Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and Professor of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School. Navil is without question one of the most outstanding clinicians, researchers, and teachers of his generation.   I am simply over the moon that he is this year’s recipient of the Smith award and I am so lucky to be able to count him as one of my friends. 

For those of you who know Navil, worked with him, or were one of his students or colleagues, please make every effort to attend and celebrate this award with him tomorrow. Myron Yaster MD