ZSFG hospital and front steps

UCSF Anesthesia & Perioperative Care at Zuckerberg San Francisco General


About this site

Zuckerberg San Francisco General is a licensed general acute care hospital within the Community Health Network, which is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Health. ZSFG provides a full complement of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, skilled nursing, diagnostic, mental health, and rehabilitation services for adults and children. It is the largest acute inpatient and rehabilitation hospital for psychiatric patients in San Francisco. Additionally, it is the only acute hospital in San Francisco that provides twenty-four hour psychiatric emergency services. 

ZSFG is world renowned for its expertise in trauma and neurotrauma / neurologic critical care. As a UCSF affiliate, ZSFG has a long and distinguished history of research in diverse areas including trauma, AIDS, anesthesia, and critical care. 

ZSFG Trauma Center 


ZSFG operates the only level 1 trauma center for more than 1.5 million residents of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. 

For more information about the ZSFG Trauma center please visit Trauma Team

The UCSF ZSFG partnership 

Since 1864, the UCSF School of Medicine and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital have worked in close collaboration to provide health care services for the people of San Francisco. UCSF physicians, residents, respiratory care practitioners, and laboratory technicians provide patient care at the ZSFG which is regarded as one of the finest public hospitals in the nation. 

Some of UCSF's most groundbreaking research also takes place at ZSFG. For more information about the collaboration between these two leading institutions, please visit UCSF at Zuckerberg San Francisco General

 

Historical timeline

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Split image of County Hospital in 1872 on top and below a site plan drawing of the grounds and buildings.
County Hospital in 1872, top, and a site plan drawing of the grounds and buildings, bottom.
1872

In 1872, the city of San Francisco built a 400-bed hospital on Potrero Avenue, the current SFGH Campus location. This all-wood construction hospital became one of four emergency hospitals operated by the City by 1904 (Central, Harbor, Park, and Potrero).

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Horse-drawn ambulance in front of Potrero Emergency Hospital in 1906.
Horse-drawn ambulance in front of Potrero Emergency Hospital in 1906.
1906

In the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake, the Potrero Hospital treated many of the city's earthquake victims. The hospital also cared for many patients suffering from the ensuing plague ultimately resulting in the demolition (burning down) of the old wooden hospital.

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Invitation to opening of Mission Emergency Hospital from 1909.
Invitation to opening of Mission Emergency Hospital from 1909.
1909

The Mission Emergency Hospital was built at 23rd Street and Potrero Avenue and by the 1930s had become the primary hospital for treating injuries for San Francisco. 

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Hospital facility on Potrero Campus showing four main ward buildings.
Hospital facility on Potrero Campus showing four main ward buildings.
1915

San Francisco built a new hospital facility on the Potrero Campus with four main wards buildings. These buildings are still in use today.

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An empty teaching theater in 1930.
An empty teaching theater in 1930.
1930

SFGH has a long history as a teaching hospital. The teaching theater shown in this image is still present, nearly unchanged in building 1.

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A state-of-the-art operating theater in 1937.
A state-of-the-art operating theater in 1937.
1937

Operating theaters in the relatively new hospital complex were state of the art. 

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Stuart Cullen at various stages of his career.
Stuart Cullen at various stages of his career.
1958

In 1958, Dr. Stuart C. Cullen became the first chairman of the new Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care. Dr. Cullen and his faculty developed a larger, more active residency program offering more broadly based clinical activity, including obstetric anesthesia, Intensive Care Unit, and anesthesia training at San Francisco General Hospital.

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Dr. Ernie Guy teaching two residents
Dr. Ernie Guy teaching two residents.
1959

Dr. Guy was a beloved teacher and influential in supporting the bond measure that helped construct building 5 (the main hospital for decades). Dr. Guy also created the first ICU at SFGH (which was combined medical and surgical).

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Portrait of William Hamilton with short-cropped hair in suit.
Dr. Bill Hamilton
1966

In 1966, Dr. Stuart Cullen was promoted to dean of the Medical School and Dr. William K. Hamilton became chairman of Anesthesia, a post he would hold until 1984. At this time an anesthesia unit was established at the Veterans Administration Hospital and the Department assumed responsibility for the intensive care unit at San Francisco General Hospital. 

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Split panel of ambulance in front of San Francisco City Hall on left and William Blaisdell in glasses and a bowtie on right.
Ambulance in front of San Francisco City Hall, left, and William Blaisdell, right.
1966

In 1966 SFGH was designated as the city's trauma center. At that time, SFGH was one of only two trauma centers in the country (Cook Country being the other), and under the direction of William Blaisdell (Surgery chief), SFGH Trauma Service changed the organization of trauma systems throughout the country. San Francisco had a 24-hour ambulance system since the 1950s and with the new Trauma Center, San Francisco became the first complete trauma system in the United States.

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Richard Barber, MD, in the office at SFGH, circa 1970s
Richard Barber, MD
1968

The classic Steve McQueen movie "Bullitt" was filmed in and around San Francisco in late April 1968. Several SFGH Anesthesia faculty and residents appear as extras while going about their work, including faculty member, Dick Barber, MD. Bullitt.

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Department members in 1968.
Department members in 1968.
1968

Joe Lee, MD, appointed as the first director of the ICU at SFGH. He's pictured here in the back row of the 1968 department group photo.

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A nurse walks with a patient in the SFGH ICU.
A nurse walks with a patient in the SFGH ICU.
1970

In his role as ICU Director, Dr. Schlobohm helped establish the first interdepartmental ICU at SFGH, involving collaborators from medicine, surgery, and anesthesia. The ICU was progressive in many ways, including being a pioneer in early ambulation and other therapies for mechanically ventilated patients. 

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Larson close-up, looking down.
Dr. C. Phillip Larson
1972

Dr. Larson served as chief of Anesthesia in SFGH and vice-chair of Anesthesia at UCSF before becoming appointed chair of the Department of Anesthesia at Stanford, a post he filled until 1982.

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Barrie Fairley sitting in a chair in a suit and tie.
Dr. H. Barrie Fairley
1973

Dr. Fairley started medical school at age 16 during WWII. During a stint as house anesthetist early in his training, it became clear to Dr. Fairley that a career in anesthesia was the right fit for him. While at SFGH, Dr. Fairley was associate dean at UCSF and conducted pioneering research in pulmonary physiology. Dr. Fairley was recruited from UCSF to serve as chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Stanford.

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Anesthesia for Obstetrics book written by Sol Shnider and Gershon Levinson.
Cover, Anesthesia for Obstetrics, Second Edition, by Drs. Sol M. Shnider and Gershon Levinson.
1974

Dr. Levinson was the first director of Obstetric Anesthesia at SFGH. Along with close UCSF collaborator Sol Shnider, Dr. Levinson published one of the key textbooks for obstetric anesthesia at that time.

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H. Barrie Fairley, MBBS, points to a Davenport chart while lecturing to department colleagues.
H. Barrie Fairley, MBBS, points to a Davenport chart while lecturing to department colleagues.
1975

The Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at ZSFG has a storied history of clinical research on mechanical ventilation during critical illness that began with Dr. Fairley. This dates back to the mid-1970s with the publication of the seminal study on Optimum PEEP by H. Barrie Fairley, MD. In 1975, Dr. Barrie Fairley, then Chief of Anesthesia at San Francisco General Hospital, led several seminal research studies that provided the foundation for contemporary lung protective ventilation strategies.

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Aerial view of San Francisco showing the new SFGH hospital campus and the Bay Bridge in the distance.
Aerial view of the new SFGH hospital campus and the Bay Bridge in the distance.
1976

The City opens a New Acute Care Hospital on Potrero Avenue. Known as building 5, this hospital would serve as the city's primary public health center for more than 30 years. The first anesthetic in the new hospital was delivered by then Chief Resident Dennis Mangano and Attending Barrie Fairley.

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Black and white cartoon caricature of faculty roster in 1979.
Cartoon of faculty roster in 1979, by then-resident Rick Forester.
1979

Drawing by Rick Forester of the 1979 faculty roster.

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Close up of 3 laryngoscope blade called Bainton Blades after Cedric Bainton.
Bainton laryngoscope blades.
1987

Dr. Cedric Bainton (chief of the Department of Anesthesia at SFGH, 1985) described a new laryngoscope blade designed for emergency visualization of the pharynx and larynx when the pharyngeal space is restricted. Anesthesiology. 1987 Nov;67(5):767-70.

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Centers for Disease Control logo.
Centers for Disease Control logo.
1989

In 1989, the San Francisco Injury Center was established as one of 15 CDC funded centers in the U.S.

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San Francisco Health Plan logo.
San Francisco Health Plan logo.
1994

SFHP was created in 1994 as one of California’s Local Health Plans – an initiative to provide affordable health coverage to low and moderate-income families residing in San Francisco.

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ARDSnet logo with cartoon of United States map over red lungs.
ARDSnet logo.
1996

Numerous SFGH/UCSF faculty participated as collaborators for nearly a dozen ARDnet trials conducted at SFGH.

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Portrait of Sue Carlisle in light blue top.
Dr. Sue Carlisle
1999

Dr. Sue Carlisle's accomplishments include tireless advocacy on behalf of the UCSF faculty at ZSFG and the hospital, steering the faculty through unprecedented changes in departmental and SOM leadership, establishing collegial working relationships with ZSFG and Department of Health administration, and leading the UCSF participation in the rebuild of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (2016) and the building of the Research Building at ZSFG. Dr. Carlisle went on to become associate dean at UCSF.

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Dr. William Young in his lab.
Dr. Bill Young
2000

Dr. Bill Young (1954-2013), William P. Livingston endowed chair in anesthesia, founded The Center for Cerebrovascular Research (CCR) at SFGH. The CCR is a core group of faculty and staff pursuing integrative and interdisciplinary study of cerebrovascular disease, utilizing the tools of vascular cell biology, animal models, human genetics, disease epidemiology, and treatment outcomes research. Located in historic Building 10. Under Dr. Young's leadership, the group has been awarded more 7 NIH grants and produced hundreds of peer-reviewed publications.

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Atlas of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia written by Andrew Gray.
Cover, Atlas of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia, by Andrew Gray.
2003

SFGH Anesthesia Professor, Andrew Gray, publishes first edition of the "Atlas of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia." Dr. Gray is a world leader in regional anesthesia and was the first to describe the adductor canal block (with colleague Dr. Jens Krombach). 

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James Marks in a lab coat pointing at a computer screen.
Dr. Jim Marks
2006

Dr. Jim Marks was vice chair of the Department of Anesthesia at UCSF, chief of the Medical Staff, chief of Anesthesia at SFGH and former ICU director (1996). He is a physician leader, board-certified in internal medicine, anesthesia, and critical care.

Dr. Marks is an internationally recognized pioneer in the fields of antibody and protein engineering and is the top funded NIH researcher in the United States. Dr. Marks discovered the monoclonal antibody for Botulinum Treatment. He holds more than 100 issued or pending patents and has authored over 200 publications. Dr. Marks co-founded four biotechnology companies and serves on the scientific advisory board of three biotechnology companies and on the board of directors of a fourth, all in the therapeutic antibody space. In recognition of his scholarly achievements, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2006.

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Healthy San Francisco logo in with cartoon city in green and blue on white background.
Healthy San Francisco logo.
2006

Healthy San Francisco is an innovative and pioneering health access program that makes health care available and affordable to uninsured San Francisco residents regardless of immigration status, employment status, or pre-existing medical conditions.

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Jean Francois Pittet in his laboratory.
Dr. Jean Francois Pittet
2007

This NIH Training Grant was awarded to Dr. Jean Francois Pittet. At the time Dr. Pittet was a professor of Anesthesiology at SFGH, where he worked as a trauma anesthesiologist and intensivist for 18 years. Dr. Pittet is now the Chestnut Endowed professor of anesthesiology at the University of Alabama and editor of Anesthesia & Analgesia.

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Portait of Renee Navarro in blue shirt.
Dr. Renee Navarro
2010

In 2010 Dr. Renee Navarro was appointed as the first vice chancellor of Diversity and Outreach at UCSF. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including a proclamation from the city and county of San Francisco making June 18, 2003, “Dr. J. Renee Navarro Day.” Dr. Navarro is a steering committee member of the African American Health Initiative for San Francisco County, a member of the UC President’s Task Force on Faculty Diversity and the former chief of the Medical Staff at SFGH (2001).

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Neuroanesthesia book co-authored by William Young.
Cover, Cottrell and Young's Neuroanesthesia.
2010

Cottrell's Neuroanesthesia, edited by James E. Cottrell, MD, FRCA and Bill L. Young, MD, delivers the complete and authoritative guidance for providing anesthesia in neurosurgical patients. Dr. Bill Young (1954-2013) was professor and vice chair, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at UCSF/SFGH, professor of neurological surgery and neurology, and the director, Center for Cerebrovascular Research. Read Dr. Young's memoriam in Stroke.

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Trauma Anesthesia Society logo blue on black background.
Trauma Anesthesia Society logo.
2014

The TAS is an international society that serves as a platform for anesthesiologists who care for the injured and aims to further the art and science of trauma anesthesia. The TAS was co-founded by faculty at SFGH.

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ZSFG Hospital campus showing new main building.
Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
2016

In 2016, ZSFG opens a state of the art, 500-bed trauma center, the only Level-1 trauma center in San Francisco Country.

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Sue Carlisle, MD, PhD, middle, with UCSF and ZSFG leaders, cutting the ribbon to open Pride Hall at ZSFG
Sue Carlisle, MD, PhD, and other UCSF and ZSFG leaders cutting the ribbon at the new Pride Hall.
2023

UCSF Pride Hall Opens! In the summer of 2023, UCSF faculty on the ZSFG campus began moving their offices and labs over to UCSF PRIDE Hall! This new facility, located on 23rd Street, near San Bruno Ave., is critical to continuing the 150-year partnership between ZSFG and UCSF and our shared mission to improve patient care for vulnerable populations in the Bay Area and worldwide. With the opening of Pride Hall, the UCSF research community at ZSFG will be better positioned to carry out transformative research aimed at improving health outcomes. Read more about Pride Hall.

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