| |
October 2001
Volume 65 |
Number 10
|
| |
ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
|
| Mother
ASA |
Roger Moore, M.D.
Assistant Treasurer
It is comforting to think of ASA as a wise, capable and fertile
mother whose family includes not only our state component societies
but also other important anesthesia-related organizations. Three
important offspring include the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation
(APSF), the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology (WLM) and the
Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER). About
10 years ago, the wisdom of the ASA House of Delegates called
for the nurturing of these three organizations financially and
intellectually. At that time, an increase in ASA dues occurred
specifically to provide support for these three organizations.
With ASA’s support, each of these three offspring has grown
into robust, productive and active entities. In fact, they might
be called the heart, soul and brains of ASA. Close evaluation
of the financial strengths of these organizations, however, indicates
that the good works they provide for the ASA membership cannot
be continued without further sustenance by Mother ASA. In other
words, these three offspring are still in their growing stages
and will require continued help before reaching full independence.
The only reason for bringing this into focus at this time is
that Mother ASA has been living in a deficit-spending mode for
the past few years. Although her financial well-being is still
intact (in fact, she can be considered well-off), fiscal responsibility
requires Mother ASA to tighten her belt and begin once again to
live within her means. The House of Delegates will have to begin
prioritizing activities and consider a variety of cost-cutting
measures. The basic question before the ASA membership is, where
should budgetary restraint be used? I would argue that in our
deliberations, FAER, APSF and WLM should be spared. They will
become full and independent groups, but their time is not yet
here.
Our Heart — FAER is the heart of ASA. It provides
educational opportunities to our residents, our fellows and to
all members of ASA. It is only through continuing education and
the discovery of new information that any specialty can progress.
FAER has done an admirable job in providing grants to those members
of our anesthesia community interested in making new discoveries
and improving our knowledge. A list of individuals having received
support by FAER indicates that most have gone on to become respected
international researchers as well as anesthesia leaders. In many
cases, FAER funding provided the seed that grew into well-funded
research programs. As organizations giving research grants continue
to keep tight reins on funding, support of our young researchers
becomes an absolute necessity in order to maintain the heart of
our specialty. If ASA is to maintain its place as a vibrant, growing
organization, it must be able to support its researchers in their
intellectual endeavors.
Our Soul — APSF is an organization dedicated to the
well-being of all individuals who come into contact, either directly
or indirectly, with anesthetic pharmaceutical products and equipment.
What better represents the soul of ASA? APSF, in a nonbiased way,
has the job of identifying those areas and situations that place
patients and operating room personnel at risk and of promoting
ways in which to eliminate these risks. The activities of APSF
have recently been expanded from the hospital operating room to
include surgical centers and physicians’ offices. This is
a noble mission and one that should never end.
Our Brain — The WLM serves as the repository of all
anesthesia knowledge. No other organization is capable of undertaking
research on anesthesia-related topics with such speed and depth.
The WLM is unparalleled in its accumulation of anesthesia-related
objects and literature and should continue to expand this repository
and archival function. As long as anesthesiology continues to
expand in many new directions and areas, there will be a need
for the WLM to be actively accumulating that new knowledge.
APSF, FAER and WLM, with the help of Mother ASA, have grown from
infancy into their young teenage years. Their further health,
however, still requires continued financial nurturing from Mother
ASA. Obviously, once each of these societies grows to the point
where they can care for themselves, financial assistance could
be withdrawn. On the other hand, Mother ASA at some future time
may need to have its offspring help support her in her old age!
return to top
|