Charles Bernard Pittinger (1913-1990) was an anesthesiologist, professor, and author. He was renowned for his research and writing in pharmacology and anesthesiology, as well as his development of new methods for delivering anesthesia in obstetrical cases and to patients on antibiotics. He was the author of "James Tayloe Gwathmey - American Pioneer Anesthesiologist." The Charles B. Pittinger Library of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center was dedicated 1989.

He received his M.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1942. He was a Chemist in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1937-1945. Later he received an M.S. in Anesthesiology from the State University of Iowa in 1952. Then he became an associate of the Division of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology at the State University of Iowa College of Medicine from 1952-1953. He then went from Assistant Professor to Professor and Acting Chairman of the Division of Anesthesiology of the State University of Iowa during the time period of 1953-1962. Also during this time, he was an Attending in Anesthesiology at the V.A. Hospital in Iowa City from 1954-1962. He then came to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology, from 1962-1968. He also served as an Associate Professor and later a Professor of Pharmacology at VUSM from 1963-1978. He became Professor Emeritus at Vanderbilt in 1978. He also was a Fellow of the American College of Anesthesiology and a Diplomat for the American Board of Anesthesiology.