Charles R. Sims III

Charles R. Sims III, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He holds multiple leadership roles including Chair of Quality, Vice Chair for Safety and Quality in Anesthesiology, and Vice Chair of the Surgical Quality Subcommittee. Board-certified in anesthesiology and critical care medicine, he specializes in anesthesia for thoracic, orthopedic, spine, plastic, and transplant surgeries.

Dr. Sims completed his medical education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (M.D. 2012), followed by an anesthesiology residency (2016) and a critical care fellowship at Mayo Clinic (2017). His research focuses on:

• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway development
• Goal-directed therapy algorithms for complex surgeries
• Quality improvement in anesthesia and healthcare systems
• Team recovery strategies post-crisis
• Simulation-based medical education

His publications demonstrate strong emphasis on surgical quality improvement, anesthesia techniques, and educational methodologies, with recent work exploring ERAS protocols, competency assessment frameworks, and innovative simulation training approaches.

Significant honors include:

• ASA-SEA Distinguished Educator in Anesthesiology (2022)
• Mayo Clinic Distinguished Educator Award (2020, dual recognition from faculty and residents)
• Teacher of the Year, Mayo Fellows Association (2020)
• Outstanding Quality Improvement Project Award (2025)

Dr. Sims leads numerous institutional committees including the Enterprise Safety and Quality Committee and serves on national groups like the ASA Committee on Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia. His work emphasizes data-driven process improvement in perioperative care.