Newswise — The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), owner of the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia, announces that Steven L. Shafer, M.D., has renewed his contract as Editor-in-Chief of the journal through 2015. Under Dr. Shafer’s leadership, Anesthesia & Analgesia has seen its impact factor, an independent measure of a journal’s impact on a field of study, climb from 2.1 in 2006 to 2.6 in 2008.

Dr. Shafer has deployed a collection-focused publishing strategy, focusing each issue on a group of articles about a key topic. Collections have included pain control as a human right, gender, hyperthermia, and health care implications of major disasters, using the 2008 Sichuan earthquake as an example. Dr. Shafer has also expanded the author’s voice through the new “Open Mind” and “Commentary” articles. He has broadened the journal’s continuing medical education (CME) program. Also under Dr. Shafer’s direction, the journal’s interior has been completely redesigned and will be converted to full-color starting with the March 2010 issue.

“In his first term Steve Shafer has been a remarkably innovative and creative Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia, and we are delighted that he has agreed to continue his highly successful tenure," said Robert N. Sladen, M.D., Chair of the IARS Board of Trustees. “The Board unanimously supports Dr. Shafer’s efforts, and we believe his contribution to the Journal’s 88-year legacy will be lasting and significant.”

About the IARSThe International Anesthesia Research Society is a nonpolitical, not-for-profit medical society founded in 1922 to encourage, stimulate, and fund ongoing anesthesia-related research and projects that enhance and advance the anesthesiology specialty. The IARS has a worldwide membership of more than 15,000 physicians, physician residents, and others with doctoral degrees, as well as health professionals in anesthesia-related practice. In addition to publishing the monthly scientific journal Anesthesia & Analgesia, the IARS sponsors an annual clinical and scientific meeting, contributes funds to anesthesia-related research, and sponsors the SAFEKIDS research initiative in conjunction with the FDA. Additional information about the society and the journal may be found at www.iars.org.

About Anesthesia & Analgesia Anesthesia & Analgesia was founded in 1922 and was issued bi-monthly until 1980, when it became a monthly publication. A&A is the leading journal for anesthesia clinicians and researchers and publishes more than 500 articles annually in all areas related to anesthesia and analgesia, such as cardiovascular anesthesiology, patient safety, anesthetic pharmacology, and pain management. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW), a division of Wolters Kluwer Health, a global provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry.