An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in administering anesthesia, pain management, and critical care before, during, and after surgeries. They are responsible for patient safety and well-being throughout the surgery, and their primary roles during surgery are to provide continual medical assessment of the patient, monitor and control the patients vital life functions, including heart rate and rhythm, breathing, blood pressure, body temperature, and body fluid balance, and control the patients pain and level of consciousness to make conditions ideal for a safe and successful surgery.

Anesthesiologists also have many responsibilities outside of the surgical suite. They assess patients health and test results before surgery, determine the safest anesthesia plan for them, and ensure their safety during and after the surgery. They also help manage long-term (chronic) pain conditions.

Here are some of the specific tasks an anesthesiologist may perform:

• Prescribing medications, including opioid and non-opioid options, and recommending and overseeing treatments like physical therapy, acupuncture, and nerve blocks.
• Assessing patients health and test results before surgery, determining the safest anesthesia plan for them, and ensuring their safety during and after the surgery.
• Monitoring patients vital signs during surgery, managing their medical conditions, and administering fluids, blood products, and medications to support their bodily functions, such as the function of their heart, lungs, and kidneys.
• Providing pain relief if patients have an ongoing condition like back pain or cancer, and helping them control pain after they get home from surgery.
• Caring for patients who are having minor surgery or who may not require general anesthesia, such as women in labor who need to be awake and alert but require effective pain management.

Anesthesiologists are highly trained medical professionals who have 12 to 14 years of education, including medical school, and 12,000 to 16,000 hours of clinical training. They are responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of patients before, during, and after surgery, and they play a critical role in managing pain and other medical conditions.