ABOUT DR. WILLIAM CLAYTON PETTY

William Clayton Petty, MD, is a retired physician who had a distinguished career in anesthesiology in academic fields and in the military. He has received many awards for his work in safety in anesthesia, dedication to excellence, writing, and contributions to the military, and contributions to the historical and technical understanding of anesthesia. He served in the military for 25 years, in University practice for 12 years, and in the private practice of anesthesia for 15 years.

Dr. Petty graduated from the University of Utah, completed a two-year anesthesia residency at Brooke Army Medical Center, and a one-year research residency in anesthesia at the School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio, Texas.
During his professional career he has given 473 lectures, written 164 scientific articles, single authored three books and was a contributing author in eight additional books.
Dr. Petty served as Chief of Anesthesia at the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam. Experiences there resulted in the writing of his book: Vietnam Doc. After returning from Vietnam, Dr. Petty was chosen as the staff anesthesiologist for the recovery missions of Apollo 15 and Apollo 16. Dr. Petty has lectured in 43 foreign countries and 35 states in the USA. He has been a visiting Professor in 19 universities.
After retiring from the military, he and his wife served for eight years as organizers for the Neonatal Resuscitation Training program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in eight countries in Africa and two in the Middle East. He was awarded the prestigious Public Interest in Anesthesia Award by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists for his outstanding contributions to anesthesia patient safety and the promotion of quality anesthesia care.

Medical Degree : University Of Utah, 11 June 1965
Anesthesiology Residency: Brooks Army Medical Center,
San Antonio, Texas, 31 August 1969.
Professor of Anesthesiology
Private practice of anesthesia for 17 years.
Served in the Army and Navy for a combined 23 years.
CAPTAIN, United States Navy, Medical Corp.

AWARDS

  • 1962, 1963 – Avalon Foundation Scholarship
  • 1965 – James Bush Memorial Research Award
  • 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987 – Distinguished Teaching Award, by Anesthesia Residents at University of Utah.
  • 1989, 1997 – Physicians Recognition Award – American Medical Association
  • 1992,1993 – Listed in American Men & Women of Science
  • 1996 – Defense Meritorious Service Award
  • 1996, 1997 – Listed in Who’s Who in American Science and Engineering
  • 2000, 2001 – Listed in Who’s Who in the World
  • 2001 – American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Public Interest in Anesthesia Award
  • Interest in Anesthesia Award. 2014 – American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nursing: Mary Hanna Memorial Journalism Award

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1969 –1970 - Chief of Anesthesia, 24th Evacuation Hospital, Vietnam
  • Chairman of seven different Departments of Anesthesiology Given 458 lectures in 39 countries and the USA
  • Taught anesthesia in four University Programs
  • Served as professional coordinator for 20 weeks per year for 8 years organizing and training Neonatal Resuscitation Training programs for doctors, nurses, and midwives in 9 countries in Africa and the Middle East
  • 1971 - Staff Anesthesiologist for the Recovery Mission of the Astronauts for Apollo 15
  • 1972 – Staff Anesthesiologist for the Recovery Mission of the Astronaut’s for Apollo 16
  • Visiting Professor at 15 Anesthesia Departments in the USA and foreign countries
  • Published 165 scientific articles in anesthesia journals
  • Written 3 single-authored books
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