Mark Bicket, MD, PhD, receives the American Society of Anesthesiologists James E. Cottrell, MD, Presidential Scholar Award

Mark Bicket, MD, PhD, is the recipient of the 2025 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) James E. Cottrell, MD, Presidential Scholar Award in recognition of his work to pioneer evidence-based approaches to patient-centered pain care. He will receive the award, which is presented annually to one physician-scientist worldwide who has dedicated their early career to research, at the ASA Annual Meeting’s Celebration of Research on October 13.  

Bicket is an associate professor with tenure in the University of Michigan Medical School Department of Anesthesiology with a joint appointment in the U-M School of Public Health Department of Health Management and Policy. He also serves as co-director of the Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN). 

“I am honored to receive the ASA James E. Cottrell Presidential Scholar Award. I’m deeply grateful to our extraordinary team, including staff, collaborators, trainees and mentors who have supported me along the way,” Bicket said. “I remain committed to advancing evidence-based approaches and keeping patients at the center to improve health and care.” 

Bicket’s research aims to improve care for patients with pain while reducing opioid-related harm. He currently leads three NIH R01 studies examining pain-related outcomes for people with complex pain or opioid use disorder who have surgery. He also serves as principal investigator for two trials funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, including the international CARES clinical trial examining commonly prescribed treatments for postoperative pain.  

"Dr. Bicket is an exemplar clinician-scientist, impacting our society through a combination of clinical practice, evidence generation, and policy influence,” said Sachin Kheterpal, MD, MBA, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and the Robert B. Sweet Professor of Anesthesiology. “His professional success is matched by personal warmth, approachability and humility.”  

Bicket has worked with the White House, Food and Drug Administration, CMS, state governments and national organizations to inform policy and regulatory guidance on pain and opioid issues. He serves on the FDA’s Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee and previously served on the National Academy of Medicine’s opioid prescribing guidelines committee.  

His nearly 150 peer-reviewed publications appear in journals including Anesthesiology, JAMA and The New England Journal of Medicine. He also holds editorial roles with the Journal of Pain, Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. 

Across his work, Bicket is dedicated to building collaborative research teams that include trainees, clinicians, patients, and contributors spanning institutions and disciplines. 

“Through each chapter of his professional accomplishments, Dr. Bicket has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing safe, effective and patient-centered pain care. His rare combination of clinical insight, policy fluency, and methodologic expertise position him as one of the leading clinician scientists in our field,” wrote Chad Brummett, MD, in the October issue of Anesthesiology.  

“His work exemplifies the best of academic anesthesiology — rigorous, relevant and firmly anchored to address the needs of patients.

Related: Chad Brummett, MD, reflects on Bicket’s career in the October 2025 issue of Anesthesiology.