Dr. David M. Gaba, MD

David M. Gaba, MD practises as an anesthesiologist at Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System in Stanford and Palo Alto, California, with a career centred on simulation-based education, human performance and patient safety. He serves as Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and Associate Dean for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning.

Particular areas of attention include simulation-based team training and debriefing, anesthesia Crisis Resource Management adapted from aviation and cognitive aids and emergency manuals for operating room crises. Recognition for this work includes the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for Individual Achievement, 2020.

Anesthesiology covers anaesthesia, perioperative medicine, intensive care and pain management. Dr. David Gaba is most closely associated with simulation-based education, human performance and patient safety.

Key Facts About Dr. David Gaba

• Full Name And Credentials: David M. Gaba, MD
• Specialty: Anesthesiology
• Subspecialty Focus: Simulation-based education, human performance and patient safety
• Current Position: Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and Associate Dean for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning
• Institution: Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System
• Location: Stanford and Palo Alto, California

Training Pathway Of Dr. David Gaba

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

• Undergraduate: BS in biomedical engineering, Northwestern University
• Medical Degree: MD, Yale University School of Medicine
• Residency: Anesthesiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1981 to 1983
• Board Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology

Clinical Focus Of Dr. David Gaba

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

• Simulation-based team training and debriefing
• Anesthesia Crisis Resource Management adapted from aviation
• Cognitive aids and emergency manuals for operating room crises
• Organisational safety theory applied to health care
• Patient safety climate measurement

What Dr. David Gaba Leads

• Professor with tenure of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University
• Associate Dean for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning, Stanford University School of Medicine
• Director, Stanford Center for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning
• Founder and Co-Director, Simulation Center at VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and staff physician there since 1983
• Founding Editor-in-Chief, Simulation in Healthcare, the indexed peer-reviewed journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare
• Executive Committee member of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation for more than 27 years and Secretary for 17 years
• Lead author of Crisis Management in Anesthesiology, first published 1994 with a second edition in 2015
• Founder, Emergency Manual Implementation Collaborative

Honours Received By Dr. David Gaba

• John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for Individual Achievement, 2020
• Pioneer in Simulation Award, International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, 2017
• J. S. Gravenstein Award for Lifetime Achievement, Society for Technology in Anesthesia, 2011
• Inaugural Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health Award for Excellence in Clinical Simulation, 2011
• Kaiser Award for Innovative and Outstanding Contributions to Medical Education, Stanford, 2010
• IARS Teaching Achievement Recognition Award, 2007
• David M. Worthen Award, Department of Veterans Affairs, 2003
• Delivered the ASA and APSF Ellison C. Pierce Jr. Patient Safety Memorial Lecture, 2014

Dr. David Gaba Hospital Affiliation

Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System

Stanford and Palo Alto, California. 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.

A Patient Guide To Simulation And Patient Safety

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.

Related Simulation And Patient Safety Specialists

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

• Dr. Mark Warner, perioperative medicine and safety at Mayo Clinic, Rochester
• Dr. Peter Pronovost, patient safety and critical care at University Hospitals, Northeast Ohio
• Dr. Ravi Mahajan, anaesthesia and patient safety at University of Nottingham, and Apollo Hospitals Group
• Dr. Andrea Kurz, perioperative outcomes research at Medical University of Graz

Browse the full anesthesiologist directory for more specialists.

Appointments And Insurance For Dr. David Gaba

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. David Gaba

Is Dr. David Gaba board certified?

American Board of Anesthesiology. Patients and referring clinicians should confirm current licensure and certification status directly with the relevant medical board or hospital.

What position does Dr. David Gaba hold?

Dr. David Gaba is Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and Associate Dean for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning, based at Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

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 simulation and patient safety?

Simulation And Patient Safety is the area of anesthesiology concerned with simulation-based education, human performance and patient safety. Clinicians working in this area, including Dr. David Gaba, aim to make surgery and recovery safer and more comfortable.

Has Dr. David Gaba received professional recognition?

Yes. John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for Individual Achievement, 2020. Further awards and distinctions are listed above.

Does Dr. David Gaba hold leadership roles in the specialty?

Yes. Professor with tenure of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University. A fuller list of appointments appears above.

References And Sources For This Dr. David Gaba Profile

• Stanford Center for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning
• Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation
• The Joint Commission John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award

Editorial Standards For This Dr. David Gaba Listing

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.

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

Please Note Before Acting On The Dr. David Gaba Profile

Information only, not medical advice. Location, specialty, insurance and availability change, so confirm details with Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System.