The medical specialty of anesthesiology is founded on patient experience and patient safety. Having major surgery would be a very different experience without anesthesia. Before the advent of safe anesthesia techniques, the world of surgery was basically limited to amputations and other attempts at life-saving maneuvers. Dr. Bigelow’s publication describing the safe administration of ether changed everything, and the New England Journal of Medicine called this the most important article in its history. With this article, the science and clinical practice of anesthesiology, as well as the modern era of surgery, were born. Understanding and appreciating the rich history of anesthesiology will help guide the future direction of this specialty. Physician anesthesiologists have the skills necessary to take the quality of perioperative medicine to the next level, combat the opioid epidemic, and redesign the surgical experience,