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Christopher L. Wu, MD

Anesthesiology
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About

Dr. Christopher Wu is an anesthesiologist at Hospital for Special Surgery with specialized training in regional anesthesiology and is considered one of the leading experts in acute postoperative pain management today. Dr. Wu honed his clinical skills at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Rochester, where he oversaw numerous clinical, research, and educational initiatives.

Having published more than 100 pieces of anesthesia-related research, Dr. Wu contributes his research expertise as a physician-scientist within the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Management's research division. His primary research focus is on the impact of regional anesthesia techniques on acute pain in the orthopedic patient.

He currently sits on the editorial board of several anesthesia research journals including Anesthesia & Analgesia and Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. Dr. Wu is heavily invested in the education and development of fellow anesthesiologists and serves as a mentor and educator to many anesthesiologists.

Departments

Special Expertise

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)

Patient Stories

Insurance

If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.

Credentials

Appointments

Attending Anesthesiologist, Hospital for Special Surgery
Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College

Affiliations

American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine (ASRA)
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)
American Society of Enhanced Recovery

Certification

American Board of Anesthesiology

Awards

Minogue Award, Maryland Patient Safety Center, 2016
American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine (ASRA), Board of Directors 2008-2014
Chief Resident: University of Rochester; Department of Anesthesiology, 1993

Education

Medical: Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 1989
Internship: Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY 1990
Residency: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 1993

State Licensure

Languages

English

Publications by

Selected Journal Articles

Selected Books/Chapters

Wu CL, Liu SS. Neural blockade: impact on outcome. In: Neuraxial blockade, 4th ed. Cousins M, Bridenbaugh P, eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009.

Brookman J, Benzon HT, Manohar A, Wu CL. Postoperative pain management: trends and future directions & areas in need of investigations. In: Raj’s Practical Management of Pain, 5th ed. New York: New York: Elsevier-Mosby, 2013.

Hurley RW, Murphy JD, Wu CL. Acute postoperative pain. In: Anesthesia, 8th ed. Miller RD, et al, eds. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2014.

Hurley RW, Wu CL. Acute postoperative pain. In: Bonica’s The Management of Pain. Rathmell JM, Ballantyne JC, eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009.

Selected Presentations

ASA/APS/VA-DoD/ASRA Postoperative Pain Guidelines: Methodology. ASA Annual Meeting. Washington, DC. October, 2012.

ERAS and opioid-free analgesia. 41st Argentine Congress of Anesthesiology. Buenos Aires, Argentina. August, 2014.

Prehabilitation and enhanced recovery: intra-operative fluid management and postoperative outcomes. American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2016. Washington, DC. October, 2016.

Enhanced recovery: solutions to the opioid crisis: epidurals, spinals and blocks. ASER Annual Meeting. Fort Lauderdale, FL. March, 2017.

Evidence-based recommendations/arthroscopic shoulder stabilization surgery. ASRA 43rd Annual Meeting. New York, NY. April, 2018.

Opioid-free anesthesia, recipe for success. ASER/ASA Perioperative Quality and Enhanced Recovery Symposium. San Francisco, CA. October, 2018.

The prescription opioid crisis: the role of anesthesiology in reducing opioid consumption. PGA. New York, NY. December, 2018.

Research

Dr. Wu is a prolific researcher in the field of regional anesthesiology and acute pain management. As a member of the research division within the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Management, Dr. Wu investigates acute postoperative pain outcomes in orthopedic patients.

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

Below are the healthcare industry relationships reported by Dr. Wu as of March 28, 2023.

Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine - Board Member

HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.

Patients should feel free to ask their HSS physicians questions about these relationships.

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