Dalhousie University
Dr. Coonan is Professor of Anesthesia at Dalhousie University and staff anesthesiologist at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. His 38+ years of anesthesia practice include roles as education program director and department chair/chief. He was instrumental in leading the Department of Anesthesia through a period of amalgamation and negotiating its Academic Funding Plan.
Dr. Coonan has also served as chair of Capital Health’s District Medical Advisory Committee and the QEII and Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine research and ethics committees, and president of the Association of Canadian University Departments of Anesthesia. He now focuses on improving anesthesia care in developing countries. He spearheaded the development of the Global Health Office of Anesthesia and founded the Global Outreach Course: Anesthesia in Challenging Environments, the first of its kind in North America. He currently serves as course director.