May 1, 2025
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The Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology (WLM) is pleased to announce that Ms. Brittney Conway has been appointed as its new Director. In this role, Ms. Conway will oversee the execution of the WLM’s strategic plan and provide leadership across all aspects of its operations, in support of the Library-Museum’s mission to advance anesthesiology by preserving and sharing its heritage and knowledge.
Recruitment for the Director position began in January 2025 and was conducted in collaboration with the Organizational Excellence (OE) department of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). After receiving more than 80 applications and interviewing 20 candidates, the WLM identified Ms. Conway as an especially strong match for the position. Her broad experience engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, and her demonstrated ability to support mission-driven work, stood out during the selection process.
Ms. Conway joins the WLM following ten years with the ASA, where she held a variety of roles centered on communication, professional development, and engagement. Her background makes her an outstanding fit as Director of the WLM, and we trust she will position the Library-Museum for success in the future. Prior to joining the ASA, Ms. Conway worked with CNA Chicago, where she played a key role in launching a new claims office, leading cross-departmental teams in areas ranging from operational planning to staff training.
Since joining the ASA in 2016, Ms. Conway’s work evolved to focus increasingly on physician outreach and organizational collaboration. Among her roles, she served as Grants Development Manager, where she worked on securing and managing funding, including oversight of a grant exceeding $1 million. Most recently, she served as Senior Component Relations Manager, where she cultivated and sustained strong working relationships with leadership across 53 state component societies. Her experience connecting directly with anesthesiologist leaders and constituents at the state level closely reflects the kind of engagement the WLM seeks to strengthen in the years ahead.
Ms. Conway brings with her a deep appreciation for the value of anesthesiology’s past and a clear commitment to its future. Her longtime immersion in the world of anesthesiology and its physician practitioners has strengthened her appreciation for the importance of the WLM’s mission. Her experience, insight, and collaborative approach make her well-positioned to guide the Library-Museum’s continued growth and to support its essential work in the specialty.
“I’m very pleased to welcome Ms. Conway to the WLM family. In speaking with her during the search process, it was clear she brings not only valuable experience, but also a genuine appreciation for the mission and meaning of the Library-Museum. I’m looking forward to the perspective she’ll bring to our work and to seeing the WLM continue to grow under her leadership.”
– Melissa L. Coleman, MD, Board President of the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology
Along with celebrating Ms. Conway’s selection, the WLM would also like to take this opportunity to thank Drs. Brian Harrington, Robert Johnstone, and William McNiece for their contributions during the hiring process. Each had the chance to speak with Ms. Conway as part of her series of interviews, and their feedback was invaluable in finalizing her in in this role. Similarly, the WLM thanks the ASA’s OE team for facilitating the process, along with OE Executive Sara Curtis in particular for her support shepherding the WLM in the absence of a director. Finally, thank you to all those who applied for the Director role and their interest in supporting the Library-Museum’s mission.
Ms. Conway will start in her role as Director on May 12, 2025. We look forward to the WLM continuing to flourish under her leadership.
