The Master of Science in Anesthesia Program at Case Western Reserve University is pleased to announce that Dr. Joel Peerless will act as a guest lecturer for Basic Science and contributor to the Cleveland branch’s journal club in the 2019-2020 Academic Year.
Dr. Peerless graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine in 1980, and went on to complete an internal medicine residency at Cuyahoga County’s Metropolitan General Hospital and an anesthesiology residency at Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
“Teaching is something I’ve been interested in my whole career,” Dr. Peerless said in a recent interview. His resume illustrates the point, as he has been honored with Faculty Teaching Awards from MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, and CWRU School of Medicine over the course of his career. Dr. Peerless has held preclinical and clinical teaching appointments as well as lectureships. His work with the Master of Science in Anesthesia will provide first- and second-year students unparalleled insight to the practical implementation of anesthesia in trauma settings and critical care units. This opportunity provides for more physician-led instruction, which we believe results in a more nuanced understanding of the care team for our students.
“We’re delighted to have this partnership with Dr. Peerless. His vast experience and knowledge of critical care medicine will not only contribute to our overall curriculum but will strengthen our students’ ability to practice and engage with ongoing research in the field.” Carie Twichell, CAA and Assistant Program Director for Cleveland noted. Dr. Peerless will be working with Matthew Muller, PhD, CAA and CWRU MSA alumnus (‘18) to advise students on identifying valid, clinically-relevant research publications and to eventually move more fully into active research topics.
Dr. Peerless recently retired from his position as Section Chief of Surgical Critical Care at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He joined the team at the VA in 2010, following nearly 25 years as an anesthesia intensivist and Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at MetroHealth Medical Center in Downtown Cleveland. While at MetroHealth, Dr. Peerless focused on surgical trauma and neuro critical care. He transitioned his expertise in critical care to the VA, where he shifted his focus to general, surgical, cardiac, and vascular cases.
In addition to his work as a practitioner and educator, Dr. Peerless has presented on various topics relating to anesthesia and trauma across the country, has published over a dozen peer-reviewed pieces, contributed to five books, and worked as co-investigator on two separate grants to examine the impact of certain treatments on patients with severe sepsis and acute lung injury, respectively.
The Program looks forward to this exciting collaboration with Dr. Peerless, and to the opportunity to expand our partnership with local physicians and affiliate hospitals.