AboutDr. Hirsch directs obstetric anesthesia services at UCLA Santa Monica and helps train the next generation of subspecialists as Director of UCLA's Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship — one of the top programs in the world.
He completed his residency and obstetric anesthesiology fellowship at UCLA, following an M.D. from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a B.A. from the University of Miami, where he graduated cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology.
His clinical and academic work centers on high-risk obstetric anesthesia: preeclampsia, obstetric hemorrhage, and anesthetic management for parturients with complex cardiac and hematologic disease. He has led several quality improvement initiatives at UCLA, including the Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean Section (ERACS) program and the Santa Monica massive obstetric hemorrhage and transfusion protocol.
CLINICAL FOCUS
Preeclampsia & Hypertensive Disease
Anesthetic management of severe preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, with regular didactic teaching for residents and fellows.
Obstetric Hemorrhage Protocol
Led UCLA Santa Monica's protocol for massive obstetric hemorrhage, including staff training, blood bank coordination, and helping acquire a rapid transfuser
High-Risk Cardio-Obstetric Care
Anesthesia member on UCLA's Cardio-Obstetric Committee; management of cardiovascular disease and pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy.
Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean
Created and continues to update UCLA's ERACS initiative to optimize intra- and postoperative outcomes for cesarean delivery
Accreta Spectrum Management
Over a decade of experience in helping plan and take care of patients with placenta accreta, guiding them through safe deliveries
Selected Publications
Book Chapter: Pulmonary Aspiration and Interventions to Reduce Aspiration. In Pharmacology, Physiology and Practice in Obstetric Anesthesia (Kaye & Cornett, eds.), Ch. 48, 2025.
Editorial: Sugammadex: A Review of the Considerations for Women of Childbearing Age. American Journal of Therapeutics, 30(2), 2023.
Editorial: Sugammadex-Induced Bradycardia and Anaphylaxis and Proposed Mechanism for Adverse Events. American Journal of Therapeutics, 30(1), 2023.
Case Report: Severe Hyperthermia With Altered Mental Status After Misoprostol Administration: Two Case Reports. Journal of Clinical Gynecology & Obstetrics, 12(3), 2023.
Case Report: Does Dexmedetomidine Improve or Worsen Restless Leg Syndrome Under Sedation. Case Reports in Critical Care, 2022.
Research: Intralipid Fails to Rescue Bupivacaine-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Late-Pregnant Rats. Frontiers in Medicine, 9:899036, 2022.
Case Report: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Following Lumbar Epidural Corticosteroid Injections and Facet Medial Branch Blocks. Pain Medicine, 13(9), 2012.
Societies & Service
Subcommittee Member: SOAP Governance & POCUS
American Society of Anesthesiologists
California Society of Anesthesiologists
Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology