Dr. Hugh C. Hemmings Jr., MD, PhD, FRCA

Hugh C. Hemmings Jr., MD, PhD, FRCA is an anesthesiologist affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, New York, specialising in anesthetic mechanisms and neuropharmacology. Dr. Hugh Hemmings holds the post of Joseph F. Artusio Jr. Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology, Professor of Pharmacology and Senior Associate Dean for Research.

The research and clinical emphasis of Dr. Hugh Hemmings falls on molecular and synaptic mechanisms of general anesthesia, presynaptic effects of volatile anesthetics and neuropharmacology of anesthetic drugs. He is a recipient of the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research and BOC Anesthesiology Young Investigator Award, 1992 to 1994.

Physician anesthesiologists plan and deliver anaesthesia, manage pain and monitor vital functions throughout surgery and recovery. Dr. Hugh Hemmings contributes to this specialty through anesthetic mechanisms and neuropharmacology.

Dr. Hugh Hemmings Professional Profile

• Full Name And Credentials: Hugh C. Hemmings Jr., MD, PhD, FRCA
• Specialty: Anesthesiology
• Subspecialty Focus: Anesthetic mechanisms and neuropharmacology
• Current Position: Joseph F. Artusio Jr. Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology, Professor of Pharmacology and Senior Associate Dean for Research
• Institution: Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
• Location: New York, New York

How Dr. Hugh Hemmings Trained

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

• Undergraduate: BS in biochemistry, Yale College
• Doctorate: PhD in pharmacology, Yale Graduate School, supported by a Medical Scientist Training Program fellowship
• Medical Degree: MD, Yale University School of Medicine, 1987
• Postdoctoral Research: The Rockefeller University
• Residency: Anesthesia, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Fellowship: Cardiac anesthesia, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center
• Board Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology; Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists

Main Areas Of Expertise For Dr. Hugh Hemmings

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

• Molecular and synaptic mechanisms of general anesthesia
• Presynaptic effects of volatile anesthetics
• Neuropharmacology of anesthetic drugs
• Cardiothoracic anesthesia
• Neuroanesthesia and vascular anesthesia

Academic Leadership Of Dr. Hugh Hemmings

• Joseph F. Artusio Jr. Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, since 2013
• Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center
• Senior Associate Dean for Research, Weill Cornell Medicine
• Professor of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine
• Editor-in-Chief, British Journal of Anaesthesia
• Former Vice Chair for Research, Department of Anesthesiology, 1999 to 2013
• Course director, Salzburg Weill Cornell Seminar in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care

Dr. Hugh Hemmings Research Output And Awards

• Phi Beta Kappa, 1977
• Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research and BOC Anesthesiology Young Investigator Award, 1992 to 1994
• Author of more than 200 scientific publications
• Internationally recognised for work on the synaptic actions of general anesthetics

Dr. Hugh Hemmings Clinical Appointments By Location

Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

New York, New York. 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.

Anesthetic Mechanisms Explained

Research into anaesthetic mechanisms asks how anaesthetic drugs actually produce unconsciousness, immobility and loss of memory at the level of brain cells and receptors. Understanding this makes it possible to monitor depth of anaesthesia more accurately and to reduce complications such as delirium and longer term cognitive problems, particularly in older patients.

Subspecialty Colleagues Of Dr. Hugh Hemmings

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

• Dr. Beverley Orser, anesthetic mechanisms at Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Dr. Emery Brown, anesthesia neuroscience at Massachusetts General Hospital and MIT
• Dr. Peter Kranke, evidence based perioperative care at University Hospital Wurzburg
• Dr. Steven Shafer, anesthetic pharmacology at Stanford University School of Medicine

Browse the full anesthesiologist directory for more specialists.

Making An Enquiry About Dr. Hugh Hemmings

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.

What People Ask About Dr. Hugh Hemmings

Is Dr. Hugh Hemmings board certified?

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

What position does Dr. Hugh Hemmings hold?

Dr. Hugh Hemmings is Joseph F. Artusio Jr. Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology, Professor of Pharmacology and Senior Associate Dean for Research, based at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

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 anesthetic mechanisms?

Anesthetic Mechanisms is the area of anesthesiology concerned with anesthetic mechanisms and neuropharmacology. Clinicians working in this area, including Dr. Hugh Hemmings, aim to make surgery and recovery safer and more comfortable.

Has Dr. Hugh Hemmings received professional recognition?

Yes. Phi Beta Kappa, 1977. Further awards and distinctions are listed above.

Does Dr. Hugh Hemmings hold leadership roles in the specialty?

Yes. Joseph F. Artusio Jr. Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, since 2013. A fuller list of appointments appears above.

Source References For Dr. Hugh Hemmings

• Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Anesthesiology
• NewYork-Presbyterian physician directory
• British Journal of Anaesthesia editorial leadership

Fact Checking Process For This Dr. Hugh Hemmings Profile

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.

Disclaimer For This Anesthetic Mechanisms Listing

Information only, not medical advice. Location, specialty, insurance and availability change, so confirm details with Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.