July 1997
Volume 61 |
Number 7
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| 1997 Panels and
Workshops: Something for Everyone |
Mark A. Warner, M.D., Chair
Committee on Panels
The panels and workshops to be presented at the 1997 ASA Annual
Meeting in San Diego on Monday through Wednesday, October 20-22,
will cover a spectrum of issues and provide wide-ranging educational
methods and formats. This diversity of presentation materials
and styles should allow each of us the opportunity to learn from
programs that best fit our schedules and preferred learning styles.
Panels and workshops differ considerably in their styles of presentation
of materials. In general, panels consist of a series of short
didactic presentations by four to six individuals who have special
interest and experience in the program's topic. Approximately
200 people attend the typical panel session, and panel moderators
always reserve a large block of time toward the end of each session
for questions. These questions often stimulate considerable debate
between the panelists and allow attendees to benefit from hearing
a variety of
viewpoints.
In contrast, there is no "typical" workshop, except
that most are smaller than the usual panel and provide a greater
opportunity for one-on-one or small-group experiences. The moderators
for the workshops adapt their materials and presentation methods
to provide unique learning opportunities for the participants.
For example, participants may act as jurors in "A Mock Trial."
They may gain hands-on experience with fiberoptic laryngoscopy
or regional anesthetic techniques in other workshops. Alternatively,
they may spend time with simulators to experience airway management
crises or to acquire a better understanding of breathing circuits.
Regardless of your schedule and preferred learning style, this
year's panels and workshops will provide you with diverse programs
that allow you to gain insights into a variety of issues in clinical
care, practice management, education and research.
The Key Issues
Airways: The topic of airway management continues to be
a primary issue of importance for us, and there is heavy demand
for workshops and panels on this topic. Seven separate workshops
related to fiberoptic laryngoscopy in adults and children will
be available, and many of these will be repeated more than once.
There also will be workshops that focus on other methods of airway
management and the development of focused approaches to patients
who have difficult airways. One panel, "Laryngeal Mask and
Airway Management," will provide current data on uses and
controversies related to the laryngeal mask airway.
New drugs and anesthetic techniques: Several panels will
focus on new anesthetic agents and adjuvant drugs that have either
been introduced into the practice or are pending approval. These
drugs include the oxygen-carrying colloids commonly known as "blood
substitutes." One workshop, "Intravenous Anesthesia,"
will provide hands-on experience for those of us who wish to develop
a better understanding of this technique and various drug delivery
methods. Multiple panels will focus on current information and
controversies associated with anesthesia for cardiac, neurologic,
orthopedic, thoracic, vascular, obstetric, pediatric, ambulatory
and cancer surgery. Outcomes and controversies associated with
acute and chronic pain will be addressed in separate panels. Specific
case scenarios in postanesthetic care will be highlighted in one
panel.
Perioperative medicine: A number of panels and workshops
will review the current practices in which we are involved outside
of the operating theater. From the initial question, "Can
We Train Perioperative Physicians?" to a series of panels
that address specific perioperative issues such as "New Practice
Opportunities" and "Critical Care for the Anesthesiologist,"
the 1997 Annual Meeting will provide plenty of information for
your consideration of this important issue.
Education and research: Many of us are very involved in
the education of a wide variety of health care providers, including
those in such diverse fields as paramedical care and respiratory
therapy, and educational topics always generate large audiences
and active participation. Several panels on specific educational/training
techniques and academic development programs will provide us with
information that we can use in our everyday educational activities.
Other panels and workshops will focus on the future of academic
anesthesiology departments and the expansion of professional diversity.
The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research will present
a panel on "Getting Ahead in Academic Anesthesiology 1997."
Practice management and advancing the specialty: A special
program on ASA, "Strengthening Your Component Society: Moving
from Reactive to Proactive," will be moderated by one of
ASA's past presidents, Bernard V. Wetchler, M.D. This program
is a must for all of us who either are or wish to be more active
in our state organizations and who would like to augment the value
of the state society with closer ties and understanding of ASA.
Other panels address the issues of chemical dependence, "Physician
Well-Being When the Being Isn't Well: Chemical Dependence - the
Person, the Family and Others," and medical ethics, "The
Ethical Tree: If the Seeds of Medicine Are Finance, Are the Fruits
Bitter?" The popular "Workshop on Presentation Skills:
Step Up and Speak in Your Community" makes its return to
offer each of us the opportunity to improve unused or rusty public-speaking
and media skills.
The Committee on Panels looks forward to seeing you at the October
meeting, and we encourage your active participation in these panels
and workshops. Specific locations and times of these sessions
will be listed in the Annual Meeting Program book. For each of
the workshops, space is limited and early registration is advised.
See you there!
Mark A. Warner, M.D., is Professor of Anesthesiology
and Director of Hospitals for the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
E-mail the author.
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