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March 2001
Volume 65 |
Number 3
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RESIDENTS'REVIEW
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| Greetings
From Your New "Residents' Review" Editor |
Mohammed A. Khan, M.D.,
Editor
In my first contribution as your incoming
Residents’ Review editor, I would like to emphasize the wide-ranging
utility of this column, suggest a few ways of making the best
use of it and motivate our readership to contribute to it. As
I prepared to take over from outgoing Interim Editor John A. Jack
Cooley, M.D., I was filled with mixed feelings. First, as the
representative of trainee anesthesiologists for the ASA NEWSLETTER,
I was worried and at times overwhelmed at the thought of maintaining
the high standard set by my predecessor. Dr. Cooley has truly
done a marvelous job during his tenure as the interim editor.
Our hats are off to Jack for a job well done! He has indeed left
big shoes for me to fill, and I wish him the best of luck
in his future endeavors.
On the other hand, I was enthused about utilizing this opportunity
to collaborate with my fellow trainees in realizing the true potential
of this column for having a significant impact on our professional
and personal lives. There is no doubt that, despite the physically
exhausting and mentally draining rigors of residency/fellowship
training, we still have a very important role to play in the advancement
of our specialty, in the improvement of patient care and in serving
society at large. Few of us realize how the inefficiencies and
frustrations of our daily lives can shape our future. What is
required, however, is the determination to discuss and share the
problems that we encounter rather than enduring them and allowing
them to disrupt our lives.
I am convinced that this column actually, this precious space
in the NEWSLETTER can play an instrumental role in uniting
us and in serving as a forum for the identification, discussion
and solution of our problems. Collectively we can make a difference!
The first step, then, is for individuals to take the initiative
and share their concerns and experiences. Let the Residents’ Review
be the forum where all anesthesiology trainees bring forth and
share their experiences. I implore you all to write about anything
that concerns you, be it about our profession, environment or
society. Do not let time constraints be excuses for inactivity;
rather, make them an impetus for improved efficiency. Most importantly,
do not forget that I am here to facilitate the conversion of your
ideas into articles for publication. So, please contact me at
any time.
A few examples will illustrate what we trainees are capable
of achieving. How many of you were aware of the fact that:
- the resolution that was formulated into law banning cigarette
smoking on all domestic airline flights originated in a resident
component such as ours after a trainee like us decided to voice
concerns about the dangers of smoking;
- the observation by an anesthesiology resident that medical
students were unable to manage the airway in emergency situations
led to a resolution being presented by your own ASA Resident
Component delegates to the American Medical Association (AMA);
- and residents have in the past written AMA resolutions about
the necessity of wearing protective gear during rollerblading,
the dangers of bungee cords and paternity/maternity benefits.
All these recommendations ultimately became a permanent part
of AMA and national policy. Thousands, if not millions, will reap
the benefits of these policies. Why? Because a few residents were
motivated enough to publicize their observations and concerns.
I am eagerly looking forward to working closely with all of
you. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss your
ideas, either by e-mail makhan@zeus.bwh
.harvard.edu or by telephone at (617) 738-9550. The Resident’s
Review articles are due on the first of the month preceding the
month of publication; therefore, please let me know well in advance
about your planned contributions so that delays can be avoided.
Good luck!
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Mohammed
A. Khan, M.D., is a CA-3 resident in anesthesiology at the
Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston,
Massachusetts. |
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