UNC Anesthesiology congratulates Professor of Anesthesiology and department Chair Ted Sakai, MD PhD, MHA, FASA, for being selected as recipient of the 2026 Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA) Membership Engagement Advisory Board (MEB) Active Member of the Year Award. Each year, the AUA bestows the MEB Active Member of the Year Award upon an AUA member who has made significant contributions to the anesthesiology field, demonstrates commitment to the mission of academic medicine, and shows impact in the field. 
Dr. Sakai was nominated and elected as a member of the AUA in 2013. He became an inaugural member of the AUA’s Leadership Advisory Board (LAB) from 2020-2023, serving as Chair during his last year on this AUA Board. Dr. Sakai also served on the AUA’s the Mentorship Program Subcommittee/Task Force since 2022. Dr. Sakai will be honored with the Membership Engagement Advisory Board (MEB) Active Member of the Year Award at the AUA Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA, in March 2026.