Anesthesiologists are physicians with a special set of skills trained to administer a variety of medications to help patients maintain comfort during surgeries and other special procedures. Anesthesia can be either local to one specific part of a body, like a tooth, or regional to block feeling to a larger portion of the body, such as during an epidural for childbirth. It can also be more general to block sensation to the entire body, resulting in unconsciousness. Anesthesiologists assist in surgery by determining how much anesthesia is necessary. We are constantly monitoring the patient’s level of responsiveness and vital signs throughout the procedure. The anesthesia specialist will also bring the patient out of anesthesia and then continue to monitor his or her vital signs post-operation. Besides assisting in surgeries, anesthesiologists may also treat patients suffering from chronic pain.