The anesthesia devices in this collection span from the turn of the 20th century through the early 2000s, reflecting a period of rapid evolution in monitoring and airway management. In an era before modern safeguards, anesthesiologists relied on exceptional vigilance and skill to ensure patient safety. Together, these artifacts provide a tangible link to the history of anesthetic practice—and a window into the innovations, challenges, and cross-specialty collaborations that shaped modern patient care.
About the Donor
This collection was generously donated by Andrew Herlich, DMD, MD, FAAP, FASA, FAAOMS (H), Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
With a professional path that bridged dentistry and anesthesiology, Dr. Herlich has earned national recognition for his contributions to both fields and is a respected authority on airway management, patient safety, and the anesthetic care of dental and surgical patients. Dr. Herlich retired from clinical practice in 2019 and served as Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Dental Anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine from 2023 to 2024.
Most of the devices in this collection are ones Dr. Herlich personally used during his anesthesiology residency in the 1970s and throughout his clinical career.