Ruben J.  Azocar, MD, MHCM, FASA, FCCM is Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (DAPOM) at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM)  and Tufts MC. Dr. Azocar obtained his medical degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela.  After completing a surgical internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, he completed his Anesthesiology residency at Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine and Critical Care Fellowships at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. As Chair, Dr. Azocar focuses on advancing the tripartite mission of clinical care, teaching and research. Under his leadership, the DAPOM has proven to be instrumental for significant growth in procedural volume in the OR and non-OR locations, assumed oversight of two intensive care cardiac units and expanded its footprint in pain management.  Additionally, the Department’s Surgical Home initiative that Dr. Azocar initiated in 2013 has expanded and shown positive results by decreasing cost, enhancing patient satisfaction and improving outcomes.From the research perspective, Dr. Azocar main focus in basic science is related to the effects of anesthetics in the susceptible brain. From the clinical research perspective, his interests are quality improvement projects and patient outcomes. Education wise, Dr. Azocar continues to support and participate in simulation and obtained an internal grant to expand the anesthesiology crisis resource management curriculum to other members of the perioperative team.In 2016, Dr. Azocar completed a master’s degree in Healthcare Management at Harvard School of Public Health. The additional leadership and administrative skills he obtained have been instrumental for the DAPOM, TUSM and Tufts MC.Dr. Azocar expertise and contributions to the fields of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine have been recognized with prestigious Fellowships by the American College of Critical Care (FCCM) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (FASA).