Mark Dershwitz

Professor Mark Dershwitz is affiliated with the UMass Chan Medical School under the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, specifically the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. He holds a PhD in Pharmacology (1982) and an MD (1982), both from Northwestern University, with postdoctoral training in anesthesiology at Massachusetts General Hospital (1984-88).

His research focuses on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of intravenous anesthetics, particularly remifentanil and morphine. He pioneered studies on remifentanil’s esterase-mediated metabolism, demonstrating its consistent short duration even in patients with hepatic or renal failure. His work on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) includes the first dose-response analysis of ondansetron and a safety reevaluation of droperidol, challenging its boxed warning.

Recent articles highlight his expertise in anesthetic pharmacology, with trends in AI applications in medical education (e.g., ChatGPT-4 in board exams), opioid-PONV interactions, and clinical trial design involving human volunteers. His scientific awards include the

• 2017 Lamar Soutter Award for Excellence in Medical Education
• Multiple Outstanding Medical Educator Awards (2002-2016)
• 2001 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Oakland University