Mark Zakowski, MD, FASA
Obstetric Anesthesiologist · Los Angeles
- Professor of Anesthesiology (Clinical), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Fellowship Director, Obstetric Anesthesiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (since 2008)
- Alternate Director from California, ASA Board of Directors
- Past President, Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology and California Society of Anesthesiologists
About
Dr. Mark Zakowski is an obstetric anesthesiologist who has practiced in New York City at NYU/Bellevue and in Los Angeles at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in both academic and private practice. He has directed the Cedars-Sinai Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship since 2008, and has published and lectured nationally and internationally on obstetric anesthesia.
He has volunteered more than 15,000 hours in professional societies, serving in leadership roles at the hospital, state and national levels as an advocate for patients. He chaired the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Committee on Obstetric Anesthesia and helped produce ASA statements on pain during cesarean delivery and on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. He serves on the ASA Board of Directors as Alternate Director from California and is a past president of both the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) and the California Society of Anesthesiologists (CSA).
Leadership & service
Current
- Alternate Director from California, ASA Board of Directors 2023–
- Chair, ASA Educational Track Subcommittee on Obstetric Anesthesia 2024–
- Physician co-lead, ASA Obstetric Anesthesia Guideline Task Force 2025–
- ASA Board Committee on Board Engagement and Strategy 2026–
- Chair, CSA Foundation for Education 2021–
- CA-PARC Severe Maternal Morbidity Expert Workgroup 2026–
- Clinical Academic Promotions and Appointments Council, Cedars-Sinai 2026–
Past
- Chair, ASA Committee on Obstetric Anesthesia 2020–2025
- Vice Chair, ASA Committee on Quality Management & Departmental Administration 2023–2026
- ASA Liaison to ACOG Clinical Consensus – Obstetrics Committee 2021–2025
- President, Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology 2018–2019
- President, California Society of Anesthesiologists 2016–2017
- Chair, SOAP Education Committee 2013–2015
- Medical Executive Committee, Cedars-Sinai 2021–2025
- Chief, Section of Obstetrical Anesthesia, Cedars-Sinai 1997–2020
- Director of Obstetrical Anesthesia, Bellevue Hospital, New York 1989–1996
Honors
- Distinguished Service Award, Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology 2026
- Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (FASA)
- Teaching and mentoring awards, Cedars-Sinai Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship
- Outstanding Faculty Award, Department of Nursing, University of Southern California 1998
- Teacher of the Year, Department of Anesthesiology, New York University 1995
Selected publications
- Elevating Anesthesia Choices for Cesarean Delivery: A Roadmap for Patient-Centered Research and Solutions (ELEVATE Project)Lim G, et al.; Zakowski M. Anesth Analg 2026;143(4):732-740. PubMed
- Readability, quality and accuracy of generative AI chatbots for common questions about labor epidurals: ChatGPT and BardLee D, Brown M, Hammond J, Zakowski M. Int J Obstet Anesth 2025;61:104317. PubMed
- Pain during Cesarean Delivery: We Can and Must Do BetterZakowski MI, Fardelmann K, Hofkamp MP. Anesthesiology 2024;140(6):1236-1237. PubMed
- Quality metrics for cesarean delivery: More than just general anesthesia ratesHofkamp MP, Sharpe EE, Zakowski MI, White RS. J Clin Anesth 2024;94:111398. PubMed
- Routine Multidisciplinary Review of Severe Maternal Morbidity Is Associated with a Reduction in Preventable CasesOzimek JA, et al.; Zakowski M. Am J Perinatol 2022;39(3):307-311. PubMed
- SOAP Consensus Statement and Recommendations for Enhanced Recovery After CesareanBollag L, et al.; Zakowski M. Anesth Analg 2021;132(5):1362-1377. PubMed
- How AI Could Help Doctors Reduce Maternal MortalityPadilla C, Abir G, Zakowski M, Carvalho B. Harvard Business Review, August 2021. Read
Education & certification
- Residency in Anesthesiology, New York University Medical Center 1989
- Internship, Department of Medicine, Roosevelt Hospital, New York 1986
- MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1985
- BS with distinction, Biology, Stanford University 1981
- Diplomate, American Board of Anesthesiology 1990
Contact
For professional inquiries, speaking and collaboration:
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