Kane Owen Pryor

Kane Owen Pryor is an Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology in Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University. He serves as an Associate Attending Anesthesiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where he contributes to clinical care, education, and research. His academic appointments span both the Department of Anesthesiology and the Department of Psychiatry, reflecting his interdisciplinary focus on neuroanesthesia and perioperative mental health.

Dr. Pryor earned his M.B., B.S. from Sydney University Medical School in Australia in 1998. His research interests are extensive and include:

• Postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction
• Anesthetic amnesia and memory suppression
• Neurobiological mechanisms of sedation and consciousness
• Pain management in vulnerable populations, including refugees
• Racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in perioperative outcomes
• Clinical trial design and implementation in anesthesia
• Functional neuroimaging (fMRI) applications in anesthesia research

His recent publications (2023–2025) reveal a strong emphasis on high-impact clinical and translational research. Themes include the neurocognitive effects of anesthetics, delirium prevention strategies, maternal health disparities, and innovative methods such as spatial computing for training. His work frequently employs advanced methodologies including randomized controlled trials, multicenter cohort studies, meta-analyses, and neuroimaging, published in top-tier journals like Anesthesiology, British Journal of Anaesthesia, JAMA Surgery, and Lancet.

Dr. Pryor is actively involved in funded research, serving as Principal Investigator on a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) subaward for the THRIVE study comparing propofol and volatile anesthesia, and as Key Personnel in an NIH-funded project to modernize the Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center. He mentors medical students and residents, with publications on mentorship and medical education. While no formal list of advisees is provided, his involvement in training and global health education indicates an active role in academic development.

He leads and participates in multiple research initiatives focused on improving perioperative outcomes, reducing disparities, and advancing anesthesiology through technology and evidence-based practice. His lab and team affiliations are centered at Weill Cornell and NewYork-Presbyterian, with collaborations across institutions, particularly in multi-center trials and global health education in anesthesiology.