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May 1999
Volume 63 |
Number 5
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ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
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| Can We Afford
the Luxury of Science? |
James E. Cottrell, M.D., Vice-President for Scientific Affairs
Recently Robert Pinsky, America's Poet Laureate, delivered a
dissertation on Jim Lehrer's News Hour on the place of
poetry in times of crisis. He recounted how most Polish civilians
kept a piece of paper in their pocket throughout World War II
and how thoughts and images captured in lines of verse written
on those pieces of paper reminded a beleaguered people of a bigger
picture, a picture of how things could be and would be, if they
persevered.
Although it would be ludicrous to draw an analogy between
World War II and the economic difficulties facing anesthesiologists
today, a valid analogy can be drawn between the inspiration of
science and the inspiration of poetry as tools that can help us
persevere. In fact, our devotion to the science of anesthesiology
may prove to be our most insurmountable defense against those
who would try to usurp the field we have developed without being
equipped to simultaneously further its development.
The ASA's attention to scientific challenges is no less
important during economically challenging times than it is during
economically tranquil times. Fortunately, as your Vice-President
for Scientific Affairs, I have had the pleasure of working with
a team of colleagues who share that view. Although each of us
is also involved in research, as Society officers, our business
is the business of science, administrating the ASA's interface
with research and education. Following are some highlights from
a recent meeting of Sections within the Scientific Council, along
with a brief overview of their current activities.
Section on Journals: The Editorial Board, chaired by
Michael M. Todd, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the journal Anesthesiology,
is responsible for the monthly publication and distribution of
the Society's scientific journal to all ASA members and other
subscribers. In addition, the Section on Journals works with the
Section on Annual Meeting to coordinate the September supplement
to the journal, containing all the scientific papers accepted
for presentation at that year's Annual Meeting. Also, the Section
on Journals is exploring new means of electronic continuing medical
education publications. For example, the Editorial Board is developing
plans to make the September supplement available electronically
rather than in the printed format, which would result in a considerable
financial savings for ASA in printing and mailing costs.
Section on Annual Meeting: The Section on Annual Meeting,
chaired this year by Thomas W. Feeley, M.D., is responsible for
all of the activities that will be held during the 1999 ASA Annual
Meeting in Dallas, Texas. Included in these activities are: the
technical, scientific, educational and art exhibits; the panels
and workshops; the 1999 Journal Symposium; the Special Program
on Professional Diversity; Breakfast Panels; Clinical Forum and
the Problem-Based Learning Discussions case presentations. Also,
the ASA House of Delegates, Reference Committees and caucuses
will meet in Dallas during the Annual Meeting, and the Section
on Annual Meeting is responsible for scheduling these activities.
Each year in November, the Committee on Annual Meeting Review
meets to critique that year's Annual Meeting and to recommend
changes in the format and activities held at the Annual Meeting.
Section on Clinical Care: This section is responsible
for planning, directing and administering the clinical care activities
of the Society. The Section is chaired by Burton S. Epstein, M.D.,
and the 12 committees under Dr. Epstein's direction are responsible
for developing statements, guidelines and practice parameters
for ASA members in their clinical practice. The various committee
chairs also process a considerable number of telephone calls and
letters throughout the year regarding clinical practice problems/questions
encountered by ASA members and others.
Section on Education and Research: The Section on Education
and Research, chaired by Patricia A. Kapur, M.D., is responsible
for ASA activities as diverse as the Committee on Excellence in
Research through the Overseas Anesthesia Teaching Programs. As
such, this section is integrally involved in the development of
continuing medical education programs and resources made available
to members of ASA.
Science, and the education it makes possible, is not a
luxury. It is an essential that we cannot afford to be without.
It will help us persevere and, in the end, prevail. Although administrating
our Society's commitment to science sounds a bit dry and somewhat
remote from more immediate concerns, it is important to much of
the stuff that makes us who we are - anesthesiologists - a kind
of doctor ... not a kind of nurse.
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