Bernard V. "Bernie" Wetchler M.D.

Born January 25, 1929 in New York City to Isidor and Lillian Handel Wetchler, he married Jorie Spector, July 4, 1951. His beloved wife died May 26,2014, prior to their 63rd wedding anniversary. Parents and one sister, Claire Wetchler, preceded him in death. Surviving are: son Joseph L. (Carole Schwartz, MS) Wetchler, PhD., Chicago; daughters Diane M. Wetchler, CPA and Sherry J. Wetchler, PhD. Peoria; two grandchildren: Jessica L. Wetchler and Daniel I. (Krupa Patel, DDS) Bordatto, DMD; two step-grandchildren: Jessica M. Townsend, MSW and Ryan Townsend, BA.

He received an M.D. degree in 1950 from New York Medical College, Flower and Fifth Avenue Hospitals, completing his anesthesiology residency in June 1953. During residency, in collaboration with Donald Brace, MD (Professor and Chair), they developed the 25 gauge spinal needle. Members of the department included Paul Wood, MD and Lewis Wright, MD. He immediately entered the United States Army Medical Corps, discharged in 1955 with the rank of Captain. He joined William O. McQuiston, MD, in the practice of anesthesiology in Peoria, IL August 1955. One of the four founding members (the others being McQuiston, John Burdon, Glenn Weygandt) of the Associated Anesthesiologists, the group provided anesthesia care in three Peoria hospitals (total 1,600 plus beds), the Peoria Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium, Pekin, Canton and Hopedale hospitals. Each of the original four rotated to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago three plus days a week to be the anesthesiologist for Pediatric Cardiac procedures with the Willis J. Potts, MD surgical group. The Potts - McQuiston cardiac surgeons/anesthesiologists team, internationally renowned, (at one point completed 500 consecutive Patent Ductus procedures without a mortality) cared for the first patient in 1946, working together through 1962 when Potts retired. At the 1956 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Meeting, the Society held a first interactive television session “Cardiac Anesthesia:” Robert Virtue, MD (Denver) “Hypothermia;” Kenneth Keown, MD (Philadelphia) “Adult Patient;” William McQuiston, MD (Chicago) “Modified Hypothermia, Pediatric Patient” were presenters in the lecture hall. A member of each of their staffs (Wetchler for Children’s Memorial) was in an operating setting, appearing on a large movie type screen demonstrating equipment/techniques and interacting in discussions.

A Fellow of the American College of Anesthesiologists (1955), Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology (1956), Dr. Wetchler became Director of the Departments of Anesthesiology and Ambulatory Surgery at Methodist Medical Center of Illinois in 1976 until his retirement at the end of 1995. He was President of the Active Medical and Dental Staff in 1976 and a member of the Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1994. Dr. and Mrs. Wetchler moved to Chicago in 1996, where he started his own consulting firm 1996 to 2002, during which time he was Medical Director of an anesthesia products company and lectured on professionalism and practice management to the anesthesiology residents at the Chicago teaching programs. He held the academic rank of Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in both Peoria and Chicago.

Dr. Wetchler was President of the Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists (1982-83), the recipient of the Society’s William O. McQuiston and Ralph Waters, Awards; A founder and first President of the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (1985-87); The American Society of Anesthesiologists elected him President in October 1994. He received each of the three Societies highest honor, The Distinguished Service Award

At a ceremony in London, England in 1997, he was inducted with Wallace Reed, MD as the first honorary members of the International Association of Ambulatory Surgery (IAAS). New York Medical College (2000), at a black-tie event, attended by more than 600 alumni and faculty, at the Plaza Hotel, New York City, he received the Alumni Certificate of Achievement for his visionary leadership in the shift from inpatient hospital to the outpatient and physicians office settings. Major contributions since the mid 1970’s were in the specialized area of ambulatory anesthesia/surgery. He presented 238 invited lectures at state, national, and international meetings; publications included 131 articles, commentaries and editorials; 11 eponymous lectures, including the Rovenstine Lecture at the NYPGA; 17 book and monograph chapters; participated in 21 research projects. His book, Anesthesia for Ambulatory Surgery, was recognized as the seminal text on the subject. Co-Editor-in-Chief of Ambulatory Surgery (official journal of the IAAS), member of eleven other newsletter editorial boards, he was a Visiting Professor at 51 medical centers in the United States and abroad. During service to ASA, he was alternate director/director District 14, 1981-1992; a member of 27 different committees/task forces (chair of 10); major contributions to the specialty were: The recognition of Ambulatory Anesthesia as a sub-specialty area; at his first Administrative Council meeting (1992) he introduced the need to include teaching/conferences on Practice Management to the Societies’ long-term educational mission.

He represented ASA as a delegate (1986-2000) to the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), an organization of more than 100 countries and over 100,000 members. At the 1988 World Congress, in Washington, DC, he chaired the section on Ambulatory Anesthesia, was elected Vice-Chair (1988-1992) and then Chair (1992-1996) of the WFSA Executive Committee. The Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology honored Dr. Wetchler, interviewing him for “Living History of Anesthesiology” videotape series (1999) and requesting his autobiography for “Careers in Anesthesiology” book series (2002).

His community activities include: Illinois AAU swimming official (highest level); President, Peoria Community Swim Association, Peoria Parks Swim Club and Peoria High School Boosters Club; member, Methodist Medical Center Board of Trustees; Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Trustee of the Foundation of the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities; Congregation Agudas Achim Synagogue Board of Directors; State of Illinois Guardianship, and Advocacy Commission; Illinois Cancer Council; Chicago Region Human Rights Authority.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 1:00 PM, at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel 2021 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604. The Rabbi Eli Langsam will officiate. Burial will be in Hebrew Cemetery in West Peoria. Memorial contributions may be made to Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology 1061 American Lane, Schaumburg, IL 60173; Ray Graham Association for People With Disabilities 901 Warrenville Road Suite 500, lisle, IL 60532; Peoria Hebrew Day School 5614 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61614; Peoria Hebrew Cemetery Association 2807 W. Heading, West Peoria, IL 61604.