The principal focus of the department was excellence in education. A series of talented Residency Coordinators, including Drs. Donald Hutchings, Karen Cheshire, Usha Ramadhyani, Sheryl Smith, Alan Kaye, and Corey Scher established principles, generated enthusiasm, and arranged appropriate rotations to specialist hospitals. In consequence the department grew steadily and at its peak there were about eighteen faculty and thirty residents.

In the 1980šs Jeff Mandel, M.D., Grog, and Mr. Steve Garcia, implemented the first computer network at Tulane with a number of faculty Apple computers that functioned as the original Tulane email server for years. In 1986 Grog and John Youngberg, M.D. introduced the Mardi Gras Anesthesia Update, a very popular CME refresher course in anesthesia. Six years later they introduced the New Orleans Anesthesiology Comprehensive Review and with the help of Girish Moudgil, M.D. attracted nationally recognized speakers to provide educational material for those preparing for their Board Exams. In 1988 Bobby Nossaman, M.D. and Micheal Gold, M.D. opened the first multi-disciplinary pain clinic in the city and Bobby established the first medical student rotation with lectures and demonstrations. Dr. Ramadhyani and Donald Smith, M.D. set up formal pediatrics rotations and did the first pediatric heart transplant in the state of LA. Dr. Smith also expanded and maintained an ever more sophisticated array of monitoring and other anesthesia equipment with the legendary anesthesia tech Val.

In the mid 90šs Jonathan Jahr, M.D. was a key organizer for a liver transplant program at Tulane. Dr. Nossaman got the research mission fully operational yielding over 50 basic science publications. As residency director Dr. Nossaman also performed the impressive feat of getting a full five year accreditation of the residency without comment by the Residency Review Committee.

In 1998 Yoogoo Kang, M.D. came from Pittsburgh to be Chairman and help expand Tulanešs liver transplant program. Mel Gitlin M.D. took over the reins as Interim Chair in 1999 and became the official Chairman in 2002. After Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 only 15 of 30 residents returned. Charles Fox, M.D. took over as Interim Chairman in 2007 while a national search was conducted. Frank Rosinia, M.D. of Parish Management Consultants became the Chairman of Anesthesia in July 2008. The department is a vital and growing force in anesthesia medical education in New Orleans and the Gulf South.