Ether Day 2020

Though there was no singing and dancing to the year's top hits under the Bulfinch Tent this Oct. 16, Massachusetts General Hospital still recognized its annual Ether Day honorees through a virtual celebration. More than 4,060 members of the Mass General family were lauded this year for their dedication, service and contributions to the hospital community.

The annual Ether Day celebration dates back to Oct. 16, 1846 when ether was first used during surgery by Boston dentist William T.G. Morton. Four longstanding members of the Mass General community were recognized this year for celebrating 60-plus years of service. Kurt Bloch, MD, Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology Division, and John Truman, MD, pediatric hematologist/oncologist, each celebrated 60 years, and W. Gerald Austen, MD, chief emeritus of surgical services, and Roman DeSanctis, MD, director emeritus of Clinical Cardiology, were honored for 65 years at the hospital.

This year’s celebrants were mailed their ribbons and pins, and were encouraged to share their photos with the Mass General community on the Virtual Ether Day Apollo page. Honorees are still invited to share their photos proudly, and colleagues to share their congratulations on the page.