David C. Mazer

Dr. Mazer is a professor in the Department of Anesthesia at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mazer also served as the Department's Vice Chair for Research from 2006 to 2015. He received his medical training at the University of Saskatchewan (MD 1978) and worked as a family physician in Inuvik, NWT (north of the arctic circle), Whakatane, New Zealand, and Cudworth, Saskatchewan before attending the University of Toronto to complete his residency in anesthesia (FRCPC 1985). He subsequently completed his fellowship training in cardiovascular anesthesia research at the University of California San Francisco and has been actively engaged in clinical practice and research in cardiac anesthesia and critical care since 1987. He has been associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, coordinator of critical care and medical director of CVICU at St. Michael's Hospital, and is currently chair of the research ethics board of St. Michael’s Hospital/Unity Health Toronto.

Dr. Mazer’s translational research has focused on improving the practice of cardiac anesthesia. His research program focuses on perioperative blood conservation, cardiac physiology and perioperative organ protection. He has co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, including practice guidelines and position statements related to perioperative transfusion and hemostasis from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. He was a lead anesthesia investigator in the BART trial and is currently the principal investigator for TRICS III and TRICS IV, a global study of transfusion triggers in cardiac surgery.

Dr. Mazer received both the Research Recognition Award for his contributions to research and the Gold Medal Award, the highest honor of the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society given in recognition of excellence in a career in service to anesthesiology.

Dr. Mazer's clinical and research interests include cardiac anesthesia and critical care. His basic science program has focused on perioperative blood conservation, cardiac physiology and metabolism and perioperative organ protection. He is also actively engaged in translational research as an investigator in both clinical studies and randomized controlled trials in these areas. Dr. Mazer is the co-founder of the CardioLink platform of clinical trials in patients with cardiovascular disease. He has co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, including practice guidelines and position statements related to perioperative transfusion and hemostasis from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. He was a lead anesthesia investigator in the BART trial and is currently the principal investigator for TRICS III and TRICS IV, a global study of transfusion triggers in cardiac surgery.

Dr. Mazer is not taking any summer students.

Other Appointments & Affiliations

• Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital
• Vice-Chair for Research, Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto
• Professor, Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto
• Professor, Department of Physiology (cross appointment), University of Toronto