Cite as: Blessing M. Interview with the 2025 Gaston Labat Award Recipient: Dr. Ban C.H. Tsui. ASRA Pain Medicine News 2025;50. https://doi.org/10.52211/asra050125.015.

The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA Pain Medicine) has awarded Ban C.H. Tsui, BSc, BPharm, MSc(Pharm), MD, FRCP(C), FASRA, with the prestigious 2025 Gaston Labat Award. Dr. Tsui was a full professor and is now an adjunct professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine at Stanford University in Stanford, CA.

Recently, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, recruited Dr. Tsui as an associate dean (Clinical Innovation & Translational Research), Chair, and Chief of the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine. He was then shortly promoted to the position of Executive Associate Dean of the School of Medicine. His mission is to cultivate a new generation of physician leaders who will excel in China and the international medical community.

Dr. Tsui developed the epidural stimulation test, demonstrating the electrophysiological effect of dextrose 5% in water on nerve stimulation. His nominators said he also “re-discovered” the catheter-over-needle technique for peripheral nerve blocks. A frequent ASRA Pain Medicine faculty member, Dr. Tsui helped create the widely held ASRA Pain Medicine Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia Course. He is a founder of ASRA Pain Medicine’s Green Anesthesia and Regional Anesthesia Cardiothoracic Enhanced Recovery Special Interest Groups (SIGs). 

Academically, Dr. Tsui is a prolific writer; he has written more than 300 academic articles, four books, and several book chapters. He served over 12 years on the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia editorial board and is an editor for the ASRA Pain Medicine journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

Marcelle Blessing: Congratulations on winning the 2025 Gaston Labat Award. Because you are so accomplished, this is the second time we have interviewed you for our newsletter as an award winner since you were also the 2022 Distinguished Service Award winner. Please outline for us again the journey that brought you to be a leader in regional anesthesia.

Ban C.H. Tsui: My academic journey began with university training at Dalhousie University in Canada. There, I completed degrees in a wide range of important fields, from engineering and mathematics to pharmacy, before attending medical school, which provided me with a solid and broad foundation of knowledge.

Research in academia and its application in practice have always influenced my interests and career choices. During my anesthesia residency in 1999, I was honored to be invited to deliver a formal lecture at the ASRA Pain Medicine Annual Conference. The topic of my talk was my groundbreaking research on a new method of epidural confirmation that uses electrical physiologic response. The loss of resistance technique was the only objective and reliable method for directing and confirming the position of the epidural catheter until my discovery.

When I was a resident, I remember my first epidural. I wanted to make sure the catheter was in the correct spot, so I asked my staff how to be sure my epidural was in the right place. "You can inject local anesthetic through your epidural catheter and observe the sensory changes while you wait. However, we do not have the time to do so since we must begin the case. If the patient awakens screaming, then you know your epidural was placed incorrectly." Since then, I've felt we should be able to do better.

I’m passionate about innovating and creating new knowledge. Although I understand how difficult it can be to change the hearts and minds of others, I occasionally become impatient and frustrated with the slow progress. 

During my neuro anesthesia rotation, I witnessed a neurosurgeon implanting epidural stimulation electrodes for the management of chronic pain, providing me with a distinct perspective. The notion that using electricity in the epidural region is safe offers a novel study avenue for substantiating my epidural implantation. My hypothesis proved true: electrical stimulation via the epidural catheter elicits motor responses (muscle contractions), indicating that the catheter is correctly situated in the epidural space. The spinal column level at which the catheter was placed must indicate the level of the contracting muscles.

Looking back, Dr. Brendan Finucane, a former president of ASRA Pain Medicine, had a significant influence on me and advised me to pursue regional anesthesia due to its potential to improve patient outcomes and clinicians' quality of life.

Early in my residency, it also became clear that regional anesthesia is not a straightforward procedure, but rather more akin to an art that only a select few can truly master. 

During my time at the University of Alberta, under the mentorship of Dr. Finucane, I developed a deep interest in regional anesthesia, which began with an initial focus on nerve stimulation techniques. This foundation later evolved as I became not only one of the pioneers and early adopters of ultrasound-guided regional blocks, a groundbreaking advancement in the field at the time, but I dedicated significant effort to academic contributions, which at first included publishing textbooks on using both ultrasound-guided and nerve stimulation regional techniques in adults and later focused on pediatric regional anesthesia. In the same vein as Nelson Mandela, I believe "education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." When I created an all-inclusive ultrasound-guided atlas, I aimed to initiate a paradigm shift in regional anesthesia. Nevertheless, the most significant characteristic I carried throughout my career was a relentless drive to improve consistently.

MB: Louis Gaston Labat was a pioneer in regional anesthesia. Your CV is impressive in many ways, but one aspect that stood out to me is that you hold six United States patents. What advice would you give to someone with an idea for a novel invention?

BT: I firmly believe that novel inventions should focus on addressing real-world problems through simple and practical innovation. Many everyday challenges are often overlooked unless approached with a scientific mindset. I advise maintaining an open and positive attitude and reminding yourself that you can achieve your goals. Avoid making excuses or convincing yourself that success is out of reach—believe in your ability to find solutions and make a difference.

I’m passionate about innovating and creating new knowledge. Although I understand how difficult it can be to change the hearts and minds of others, I occasionally become impatient and frustrated with the slow progress. The epidural stimulation test, for example, which I have described for more than 20 years, is not widely known among my colleagues. To overcome this, I remind myself that, in addition to taking more time to share and disseminate the concept, I also need to work on further simplifying and increasing the adaptability of the test.

MB: Who has been important to you as a mentor, sponsor, or collaborator? How did they impact you and your career?

BT: Reflecting on my career, two mentors are pivotal influences, Dr. Brenden Finucane and Dr. Richard Rosenquist. Their guidance has significantly influenced my professional growth and trajectory.

Early in my residency, I discovered my passion for regional anesthesia, which I viewed as an intricate art form that requires mastery. Dr. Finucane played a crucial role in this journey. He encouraged me to explore regional anesthesia, highlighting the potential to leverage technology to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. Dr. Finucane’s mentorship introduced me to this fascinating field and imparted invaluable lessons in humanity and empathy, shaping my approach to patient care.

Similarly, Dr. Richard Rosenquist inspired my engagement with professional societies and research. His belief in my abilities led to my role as the first resident lecturer at ASRA Pain Medicine. This opportunity bolstered my confidence and ignited my commitment to participating in the global medical community. As a resident, I delivered my first lecture, "Confirmation of Epidural Catheter Placement Using Nerve Stimulation," at the ASRA (American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine) annual meeting. Since then, I have participated in various ASRA Pain Medicine committees and workshops annually over the past 25 years. It's also imperative to note that my teaching experiences at ASRA Pain Medicine allowed me to interact with professionals worldwide, learn a great deal, and spark numerous research ideas. More importantly, the ASRA Pain Medicine experience has made me feel like a member of the ASRA Pain Medicine family.

MB: If you could give some advice to yourself at the start of your career, what would it be?

BT: If I could offer advice to myself at the beginning of my career, it would be to believe in yourself and maintain a positive outlook. Confidence and optimism are essential for driving meaningful change in medicine. Always prioritize what is right for the profession, placing patients' well-being and scientific advancement at the forefront of your efforts.

Remember that every small step you take contributes to improving patient care, fostering innovation, and expanding the boundaries of medical knowledge. By staying true to these principles, you can inspire those around you, make a lasting impact, and help shape a brighter future for science and patient care. As the late innovator Steve Jobs famously said, "Stay hungry, stay foolish."

MB: The Labat Award recognizes those who “have fostered the art and science of regional anesthesia in the tradition of Gaston Labat.” You have made significant contributions to the science of regional anesthesia through your research, but is there still an art to what we do that cannot be understood through scientific rigor?

BT: I firmly believe that there remains an artistry to our practice that transcends scientific rigor. Medicine is fundamentally rooted in science; yet its practice thrives on the art of human connection. Empathy and compassion originate from within us and are essential for delivering effective patient care. Furthermore, passion and determination are the driving forces behind innovation and the relentless pursuit of research. It is these vital connections to the arts that I strive to nurture and sustain in my work, ensuring that both the scientific and the human elements of our practice flourish together.

With the recent expansion of ultrasound's usage to point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), the field has benefited from the 20 years of hard work that my colleagues and I have put into promoting ultrasound's use in regional anesthesia. Thanks to ultrasound, regional anesthesia has become a reliable science that any competent practitioner can administer.

MB: What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?

BT: My most rewarding accomplishments have been building a loving and supportive family alongside my wonderful wife and raising two sons, who have chosen to follow medical careers. Watching them grow into compassionate and dedicated individuals committed to making a difference in the lives of others fills me with immense pride. Throughout the years, I have watched them grow, and to this day, they continue to contribute to my scientific work through collaboration on papers, diagram illustration, and research project execution.

As a parent, there is no greater joy than seeing your children pursue their passions and excel. Beyond their professional achievements, the bond we share as a family is the foundation of my strength and motivation. Knowing that my family embodies the same principles of care, empathy, and pursuit of excellence that I hold dear is a legacy I cherish above all else.

MB: What keeps you inspired?

BT: What inspires me is the tangible realization that, over time, the passion and effort I have poured into medicine are making a real-world impact. Seeing the fruits of my work translate into improved patient care, advancements in medical practice, and contributions to education and research is profoundly fulfilling. 

It reminds me that even small steps forward can ripple outward, creating meaningful change in the lives of individuals and communities. Knowing that my dedication has the potential to shape a better future for patients, inspire the next generation of medical professionals, and push the boundaries of science motivates me to continue striving for excellence. This connection between effort and impact, between vision and results, fuels my drive and reaffirms my belief in the power of purposeful work to change the world.

MB: As you look back on your career, what changes in regional anesthesia excite you the most?

BT: Reflecting on my career, one of the most exciting developments in regional anesthesia has been its democratization through the widespread adoption of ultrasound imaging. The introduction and evolution of ultrasound technology have transformed our field, enhancing the safety, effectiveness, and accessibility of regional anesthesia for anesthesiologists worldwide. What once required extensive specialized training and was often confined to a few experts has become a skill practiced routinely.

I feel a deep sense of excitement whenever I hear about new regional anesthesia training programs, and the blocks and techniques I once pioneered have become standard practice. It has been a great honor to contribute to this field, notably as the first author of the first books on adult and pediatric ultrasound and as the author of a chapter on pediatric regional anesthesia in Miller’s Anesthesia and a chapter in Barash’s Clinical Anesthesia.

MB: Have you faced roadblocks to change in regional anesthesia practice?

BT: Yes, I have faced roadblocks to change in regional anesthesia practice, particularly during the early part of my career. One significant challenge was a scientific barrier rooted in a misconception about the physiological response to electrical stimulation and the variability of those responses. These inconsistencies made it difficult to standardize and optimize regional anesthesia techniques, creating a need for a more reliable and objective approach.

This challenge motivated me to advocate for the use of ultrasound technology in regional anesthesia. While the early ultrasound images were grainy and lacked the clarity we see today, they still provided invaluable insight, proving that even a single image could communicate more than a thousand words. Over time, as ultrasound technology improved, it became an indispensable tool, offering greater precision and safety in block placement. It is gratifying to see how this technology has elevated the practice, making it more accessible and effective for patients and practitioners.

MB: Can you please share with us what you have been working on since we interviewed you about winning the 2022 Distinguished Service Award? What are you most excited about lately?

BT: Following my tenure as a professor at Stanford University, where I had the honor of contributing to establishing the pediatric and adult anesthesia programs, I took on a new challenge in 2024. I was appointed Executive Associate Dean of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shenzhen. 

In this exciting role, I am a member of the leadership team overseeing the development of a revolutionary English-language medical school in Mainland China, which is anticipated to have a capacity of 3,000 hospital beds. This is in addition to my other responsibilities as the Chair and Chief of the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine. I oversee the department's expansion and help it make greater strides in teaching, research, and patient care. To showcase Shenzhen's position as a worldwide innovation center, I spearhead efforts to integrate state-of-the-art technologies and innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and technology, drawing on my education and experience in computer science and engineering. Additionally, I am working to integrate international expertise into a Chinese curriculum, creating a comprehensive educational framework that adheres to global standards while addressing local needs. I want to make a further impact by training future leaders in this region of the world.

MB: If you had not become a regional anesthesiologist, what would you have pursued for a career?

BT: If I had not become a regional anesthesiologist, I would have pursued a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon, combining my passion for medicine with my strong background in engineering and technology. Cardiothoracic surgery has always fascinated me due to its complexity, which involves fluid mechanics, and its potential for transformative, life-saving interventions. I would have been particularly drawn to developing new surgical techniques and leveraging engineering principles and technological advancements to solve intricate clinical challenges.

For example, I envision working on innovative solutions, such as developing more precise robotic-assisted surgical systems, designing advanced prosthetic valves, or creating minimally invasive procedures to enhance patient outcomes and recovery times. My engineering mindset would have driven me to approach surgery not only as a craft but also as a discipline ripe for innovation and problem-solving.

MB: Is there anything else you want to share with our readers about yourself or your career?

BT: Though I consider ASRA Pain Medicine members to be part of my extended family, I am most grateful to my lovely and encouraging wife, Eliza Poon, and my hardworking sons, Drs. Jenkin (an internist) and Jeremy (an anesthesiologist) Tsui, who have never failed to be there for me. Most importantly, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my wife for being my guiding light and inspiration from the time I was in university until now. I am also perpetually indebted to my alma mater, Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, for my exceptional education and for conferring upon me a diploma in engineering as well as a bachelor's degree in mathematics and pharmacy, a master’s degree in pharmacy, and a doctor of medicine degree, all of which have provided an unparalleled foundation for my professional success. Last but not least, I am grateful to my students, colleagues, and mentors for their unwavering support, which has enabled me to focus on regional anesthesia and contribute to the entire ASRA Pain Medicine family.