About

Dr. Lawrence W. Chinn is an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Rutgers College in 2000 and completed his medical degree at New Jersey Medical School in 2004. Following his medical training, Dr. Chinn completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital in 2005 and continued his postgraduate training in Anesthesiology at University Hospital in Newark, NJ. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology. In his academic role, Dr. Chinn serves as the Director of the Anesthesiology clerkship for medical students and actively participates in the Careers in Medicine program, guiding students in their career development under the leadership of Dr. James Hill and Dr. Christine Gerula. His professional focus includes medical education and anesthesiology practice, contributing to the training of future medical professionals at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Selected publications

• Artificial intelligence-enabled clinical decision support systems in preadmission testing: a scoping review of risk prediction, triage, and perioperative workflows (2020–2025)

  Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing · 2026-01-31 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Preadmission testing (PAT) is a critical step in perioperative care that supports risk stratification, triage, and optimization. Tools such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification have limitations. This review mapped evidence on artificial intelligence–enabled clinical decision support systems (AI-enabled CDSS) and risk prediction tools in PAT and perioperative assessment, with particular attention to their implications for perioperative efficiency and patient safety. A scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched for English-language studies published between January 1, 2020, and August 1, 2025. Eligible studies applied artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) to preoperative or PAT–related evaluation, risk prediction, triage, or decision support. Two reviewers independently screened all records. The review was preregistered on the Open Science Framework (DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/JKCRH ). The original registration described a broader “digital determinants of health” scope, which was refined to AI-enabled CDSS before data extraction. Fifty-six studies were included. Most were retrospective cohorts using imaging or electronic health record data. Radiomics and deep learning dominated oncologic prediction, while structured clinical and laboratory data informed models for anesthetic risk, transfusion, and postoperative complications. Natural language processing (NLP) predicted ASA-PS classification from preoperative text. Only a small number of prospective or randomized studies were identified. AI-enabled CDSS shows promise for perioperative risk prediction and PAT triage, but most applications remain at the proof-of-concept stage. When prospectively validated and embedded in perioperative workflows, these tools could streamline preoperative work-ups, reduce unnecessary testing and day-of-surgery cancellations, and support safer intra- and perioperative monitoring. Prospective, multicenter validation and real-world implementation studies are therefore needed before routine clinical use.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Health literacy, numeracy, and preoperative preparation and communication: A narrative review of evidence and practice

  Perioperative Care and Operating Room Management · 2026-03-04

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Clinical Decision Support Systems in Preadmission Testing: A Scoping Review of Risk Prediction, Triage, and Workflow Integration (2020–2025)

  Research Square · 2025-10-10

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Neuroimmune Mechanisms in Alcohol Use Disorder: Microglial Modulation and Therapeutic Horizons

  Psychoactives · 2025-09-04 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) profoundly impacts individuals and society, driven by neurobiological adaptations that sustain chronicity and relapse. Emerging research highlights neuroinflammation, particularly microglial activation, as a central mechanism in AUD pathology. Ethanol engages microglia—the brain’s immune cells—through key signaling pathways such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the NLRP3 inflammasome, triggering the release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6). These mediators alter synaptic plasticity in addiction-related brain regions, including the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and lateral habenula, thereby exacerbating cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and relapse risk. Rodent models reveal that microglial priming disrupts dopamine signaling, heightening impulsivity and anxiety-like behaviors. Human studies corroborate these findings, demonstrating increased microglial activation markers in postmortem AUD brains and neuroimaging analyses. Notably, sex differences influence microglial reactivity, complicating AUD’s neuroimmune landscape and necessitating sex-specific research approaches. Microglia-targeted therapies—including minocycline, ibudilast, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and P2X7 receptor antagonists—promise to mitigate neuroinflammation and reduce alcohol intake, yet clinical validation remains limited. Addressing gaps such as biomarker identification, longitudinal human studies, and developmental mechanisms is critical. Leveraging multi-omics tools and advanced neuroimaging can refine microglia-based therapeutic strategies, offering innovative avenues to break the self-sustaining cycle of AUD.

  PublisherDOI

• Perceived Decline in Straight Blade Direct Laryngoscopy Skills in the Era of Video Laryngoscopy: An Exploratory Pilot Survey Study

  Cureus · 2025-09-24

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background Video laryngoscopy is increasingly used for airway management and is often chosen for both routine and complex intubations. While video laryngoscopy offers clear advantages, direct laryngoscopy remains an important fallback technique when visualization is impaired or equipment fails. As video laryngoscopy becomes more common, questions have been raised about whether reliance on this technology may reduce opportunities for trainees to practice and maintain direct laryngoscopy skills. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of anesthesiology residents and attending anesthesiologists at a single academic institution. The survey assessed self-reported confidence using the Miller blade, frequency of use, perceived importance of maintaining this skill, and beliefs about the effectiveness of current teaching practices. Responses were recorded using a 1-5 Likert scale. Descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. Results Twenty-three clinicians completed the survey (12 residents, 11 attendings). Residents reported low confidence (mean 2.5) and infrequent use (mean 2.2) of the Miller blade but rated its importance as relatively high (mean 3.75). Confidence correlated strongly with frequency of use (ρ=0.77, p=0.0031). Attendings reported limited teaching (mean 1.8), acknowledged the importance of maintaining direct laryngoscopy (DL) (mean 3.8), and expressed moderate agreement that these skills are at risk of becoming a "lost art" (mean 3.36). Conclusions This exploratory pilot study suggests that anesthesiology residents and attendings perceive direct laryngoscopy skills as important yet underemphasized in training. Given its small, single-center design, these findings are not generalizable but highlight the need for multi-center studies to further evaluate how reliance on video laryngoscopy may influence preservation of foundational airway techniques.

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• Perioperative Care of the Adult Patient with Johanson-Blizzard Syndrome

  Open Journal of Anesthesiology · 2023-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Johanson-Blizzard syndrome (JBS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by multiple craniofacial abnormalities, intellectual disability, sensorineural hearing loss, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, and involvement of other organ systems to varying degrees. Patients with JBS may require surgical intervention to address the underlying phenotypic abnormalities. The many craniofacial abnormalities found in patients with JBS are a concern for the anesthesiologist. We present the case of an adult patient with JBS who is undergoing implantation of a leadless pacemaker. Considering the many cardiac and craniofacial abnormalities in these patients, the anesthesiologist should order diagnostic tests such as echocardiography to assess cardiac function, as well as be prepared to perform advanced airway techniques for difficult airways. The anesthetic provider should be aware of the varied phenotypic expression of JBS and should individualize the anesthetic plan to each patient. Prior medical literature on the anesthetic management of these patients is scarce and limited to pediatric patients. This is the first case report addressing anesthetic concerns in an adult patient with JBS.

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• Simulated anesthesia consent discussions demonstrate high level of comprehension and education requirements for patients: A pilot study

  PEC Innovation · 2023-04-08 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Objective: Patient comprehension of informed consent and demonstration of procedural understanding is often lacking in anesthesiology. The purpose of this study was to determine if patient communication in anesthesiology is being conducted effectively, and in a manner that ensures adequate communication between anesthesia professionals and their patients regarding procedures with associated risks and benefits. Methods: Anesthesia professionals were recorded in a simulated setting explaining anesthesia procedures of increasing complexity with one control scenario. Score means were calculated, and statistical comparisons made between discussion of anesthesia procedures and the control scenario. Results: Calculation of means for 6 readability tests demonstrated the grade level required to understand the medical practitioners' verbal communication was high and increased with complexity of the anesthesia procedure described. The control scenario required a statistically significant lower level of comprehension for the recipient of the information. Conclusion: In simulated settings, anesthesia professionals regularly communicate procedural details in a manner that is difficult for the general public to understand. Subjects could communicate in simple terms when discussing a control. Innovation: This pilot study demonstrated effective methodology, using artificial intelligence technology for transcription, to assess patient comprehension of verbal communication.

  PublisherDOI

• The Readability of Online Patient Education Materials from Major Anesthesiology Associations and the American Society of Anesthesiologists

  Open Journal of Anesthesiology · 2014-01-01 · 11 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background: As much as 80% of US adults search online for health related information. The value of the information is limited by the patients’ ability to comprehend it. Despite the recommendation by the American Medical Association (AMA) to provide all patient education materials (PEMs) at a 6th grade reading level, many online sources do not conform. This study aims to evaluate the readability of PEMs from major online sources for anesthesiology. Methods: We determined the readability of PEMs from five major anesthesiology organizations and twelve brochures from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) using ten validated readability scales. PEMs from the various anesthesiology websites were compiled into a single word document for analysis. The twelve patient education brochures from the ASA were downloaded and analyzed separately. We then grouped the twelve documents into one sample and compared it to the other anesthesiology association websites. Results: All of the PEMs provided by the ASA were determined to be higher than a 6th grade reading level with nine being at a 12th grade reading level or above. The PEMs of the five major anesthesiology association websites were beyond the 6th grade reading level with four out of five at greater than the 12th grade reading level. Conclusion: The results showed that the readability of PEMs provided by five major anesthesiology associations and the ASA was beyond the 6th grade. Therefore, the PEMs with improved readability in anesthesiology are needed.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI