John Adriani

John Adriani (December 2, 1907 – June 14, 1988) was an American anesthesiologist and director of anesthesiology at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He was president of the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and he received a Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). He was an early supporter of physician involvement in nurse anesthetist training.

Early life and education Adriani was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was the oldest of nine children. His parents were Italian immigrants. After attending high school in Bridgeport, he earned an undergraduate degree from Columbia College and a medical degree from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. and he sat on the board of directors for the ABA from 1960 to 1972. He served as ABA president for one term, and he was a member of the examinations committee who shaped the ABA's modern board certification process.

Later life In the late 1960s, Adriani received an appointment to head the Bureau of Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the FDA appointment was withdrawn based on pressure from the pharmaceutical industry because of controversial statements that Adriani made about drug labeling. Adriani felt that brand name labeling increased consumer confusion around medications, and he had argued that drug companies should only be allowed to label their medicines with generic names.

Adriani officially retired in 1974, but he had a continued presence at Charity Hospital even in retirement. He died of diverticulitis in 1988.