May 1997
Volume 61 |
Number 5
|
| |
FAER REPORT
|
| FAER Partnership
With Anesthesia Societies |
This month, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research
(FAER) highlights the significant contribution anesthesia societies
make to the stewardship and potential of anesthesiology. FAER
is a vehicle through which these stakeholders are able to advance
the practice and profession of anesthesiology by supporting education
and research grants. As such, FAER represents a diverse group
of constituents. Although these societies may each have unique
objectives, they also share many common values, goals and characteristics.
Central to these goals is the advancement of the science of anesthesiology
and ultimately the improvement of patient care. This goal unifies
the purpose of various anesthesia societies and is advanced by
their commitments to education and research through their ongoing
partnership with FAER. FAER wishes to acknowledge the following
anesthesia societies that have contributed to FAER.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has been
the largest single contributor and major sponsor of FAER. ASA
provides finances, administrative services and leadership for
FAER. During FAER's 11 years, ASA has donated about $7 million
to FAER, which has made possible the sponsorship of numerous investigators
and has significantly enhanced the development of an endowment
fund.
The Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA)
has supported nine new investigators and, like ASA, has been supporting
FAER since its inception in 1986. Last year, AUA more than doubled
its previous annual contribution.
FAER is an organization whose awards are available to physicians
in all subspecialties of anesthesiology. The anesthesia subspecialty
societies have demonstrated their commitment to the whole anesthesia
practice by contributing a cumulative amount of $288,000 to FAER
and by sponsoring 11 grants to beginning investigators. FAER is
thankful to these societies for their collaboration, especially
since some of these groups operate with limited budgets.
The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) has
sustained its long trend of substantial giving and has supported
eight investigators. The Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA)
sponsored its third FAER award last year. The American Society
of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) and the Society for Ambulatory
Anesthesia (SAMBA) also have sponsored awards.
These subspecialty societies quite correctly wish to sponsor
an investigator who does research relating to the specific subspecialty.
If no project relevant to a certain subspecialty receives a score
that merits funding, the donated money can be used to sponsor
a general project, with the approval of the subspecialty society,
or can be held in escrow until an appropriate proposal is received
that competes successfully for funding.
These societies and associations have made investments through
FAER that result in a better understanding of anesthesiology and
in the development of anesthesiologists. We ask and encourage
these groups as well as other subspecialty groups to consider
demonstrating this commitment to the future of the profession.
These groups are allied by common characteristics. The partnership
they have forged with FAER confirms a commitment to the future,
a certain farsightedness, a necessary optimism and, above all,
a fundamental belief in the importance of anesthesiology and the
anesthesiology professional in the health care of tomorrow.
FAER and the Society of Neurosurgical Anesthesia and Critical
Care (SNACC) have been discussing a possible co-sponsorship
of a FAER grant in 1997. The FAER Board of Directors is reviewing
ideas from SNACC and is optimistic that a partnership will develop.
In addition, FAER and the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia
and Perinatology (SOAP) are trying to determine if it will
be possible for SOAP to enter into an agreement with FAER to co-sponsor
a project. The Foundation takes into account the serious commitments
all subspecialty societies make to research and scholarship and
believes mutually beneficial agreements can be achieved.
The Academy of Anesthesiology and the Society for Office-Based
Anesthesia (SOBA) have recently supported FAER. Here, too,
although specific goals of these groups are unique, the common
thread is their realization that preparation and investment for
the future is key to their long-term survival and success.
We appreciate the valuable and vital role these anesthesia societies
have played and look forward to continued and expanded opportunities
for strong relationships as we pursue our common goals, advancing
the science and the care of our patients through research and
education.
return to top
|