Dr. Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM

Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM is an anesthesiologist based at University Hospitals, Northeast Ohio in Cleveland, Ohio, recognised internationally for work in anesthesiology, critical care medicine, patient safety and quality. He holds the position of Chief Clinical Transformation Officer.

Dr. Peter Pronovost was previously Senior Vice President for Patient Safety and Quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine and founding Director of the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. Among the honours held by Dr. Peter Pronovost is the MacArthur Fellowship, 2008.

Anesthesiologists are physicians who keep patients safe, comfortable and stable before, during and after surgery or another procedure. Within that specialty, Dr. Peter Pronovost is best known for anesthesiology, critical care medicine, patient safety and quality.

Who Dr. Peter Pronovost Is

• Full Name And Credentials: Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM
• Specialty: Anesthesiology
• Subspecialty Focus: Anesthesiology, critical care medicine, patient safety and quality
• Current Position: Chief Clinical Transformation Officer
• Institution: University Hospitals, Northeast Ohio
• Location: Cleveland, Ohio
• Previous Appointments: Previously Senior Vice President for Patient Safety and Quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine and founding Director of the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality

Where Dr. Peter Pronovost Trained

The training record below is drawn from the institutional and society sources listed at the end of this profile.

• Medical Degree: MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Doctorate: PhD in clinical investigation, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Residency: Anesthesiology and critical care medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Board Certification: Anesthesiology with subspecialty certification in critical care medicine; Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine

Clinical Focus Of Dr. Peter Pronovost

Published professional sources describe the clinical and academic work of Dr. Peter Pronovost as centred on:

• Central line associated bloodstream infection prevention
• Checklists and standardised care processes in intensive care
• Patient safety culture and measurement science
• Critical care medicine
• Health system quality improvement

Dr. Peter Pronovost Academic And Professional Appointments

• Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, University Hospitals, Northeast Ohio
• Professor in the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Case Western Reserve University
• Founder and former Director, Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality
• Adviser to the World Health Organization World Alliance for Patient Safety
• Member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology patient safety working group
• Author of Safe Patients, Smart Hospitals

Dr. Peter Pronovost Awards And Distinctions

• MacArthur Fellowship, 2008
• John Eisenberg Patient Safety Research Award, 2004
• First recipient of the American Board of Medical Specialties Health Care Quality and Patient Safety Award
• Named to the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world
• More than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications on patient safety and quality measurement

Practice Location And Affiliation Of Dr. Peter Pronovost

University Hospitals, Northeast Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio. Clinical commitments at this institution are arranged through its departments and preoperative services. Confirm the current street address, department and telephone number with the institution before travelling, because academic appointments and clinic sites change.

About Patient Safety And Critical Care As A Subspecialty

Anaesthesia has become one of the safest areas of medicine, and that change came from the systematic study of error, teamwork, checklists, simulation and national audit rather than from new drugs alone. Work in this field examines how systems fail and how to design care so that a single human mistake does not reach the patient.

Further Specialists Working In Patient Safety And Critical Care

If you are comparing specialists, these anesthesiologists work in closely related areas:

• Dr. Ravi Mahajan, anaesthesia and patient safety at University of Nottingham, and Apollo Hospitals Group
• Dr. David Gaba, simulation and patient safety at Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System
• Dr. Mark Warner, perioperative medicine and safety at Mayo Clinic, Rochester
• Dr. Daniel Sessler, perioperative outcomes research at UTHealth Houston

Browse the full anesthesiologist directory for more specialists.

Appointment And Coverage Guidance For Dr. Peter Pronovost

Anesthesiologists are usually brought into a patient’s care by a surgeon, a hospital preoperative clinic or a pain service rather than through direct booking. Insurance participation varies by hospital and by plan, and it changes over time. Check coverage with both the institution and your insurer before scheduling, and ask whether the named anesthesiologist will personally be involved in your care.

Your Questions About Dr. Peter Pronovost

Is Dr. Peter Pronovost board certified?

Anesthesiology with subspecialty certification in critical care medicine; Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. Patients and referring clinicians should confirm current licensure and certification status directly with the relevant medical board or hospital.

What position does Dr. Peter Pronovost hold?

Dr. Peter Pronovost is Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, based at University Hospitals, Northeast Ohio.

What does an anesthesiologist do?

An anesthesiologist is a physician who plans and manages anaesthesia and pain control, and who monitors breathing, heart function, circulation and comfort during surgery and recovery. The role also covers preoperative assessment and critical care.

What is patient safety and critical care?

Patient Safety And Critical Care is the area of anesthesiology concerned with anesthesiology, critical care medicine, patient safety and quality. Clinicians working in this area, including Dr. Peter Pronovost, aim to make surgery and recovery safer and more comfortable.

Has Dr. Peter Pronovost received professional recognition?

Yes. MacArthur Fellowship, 2008. Further awards and distinctions are listed above.

Does Dr. Peter Pronovost hold leadership roles in the specialty?

Yes. Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, University Hospitals, Northeast Ohio. A fuller list of appointments appears above.

References And Sources For This Dr. Peter Pronovost Profile

• Patient Safety Movement Foundation speaker profile
• University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
• MacArthur Foundation Fellows programme

Last Reviewed And Sourcing For Dr. Peter Pronovost

This profile was compiled from the public professional sources listed above, including institutional faculty pages, hospital provider directories and specialty society records. Credentials, appointments and awards were checked against at least two independent sources where available. Last reviewed on 30 October 2026.

Update note: Previously Senior Vice President for Patient Safety and Quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine and founding Director of the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality.

Found something out of date? Contact the Find MD Health editorial team and we will review the entry.

Important Notice About This Dr. Peter Pronovost Listing

Information only, not medical advice. Location, specialty, insurance and availability change, so confirm details with University Hospitals, Northeast Ohio.