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December 2001
Volume 65 |
Number 12
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| 2001 Annual Meeting
in New Orleans Full of Surprises |
For obvious reasons, the shocking events that took place during
the months of September and October 2001 will not soon be forgotten
by those who witnessed them. As the country reeled from the worst
terrorist attacks the world had ever seen, many wondered when
and if we could return to any semblance of normalcy. Optimism
about the future was scarce. But from October 13-17, 2001, in
New Orleans, Louisiana, ASA and the world of anesthesiology experienced
a pleasant surprise.
Just four weeks after the tragic attacks that occurred in New
York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, and when fear and
uncertainty still gripped the nation, ASA held a remarkably successful
Annual Meeting. Attendance at the meeting exceeded 13,000, including
almost 7,000 physicians. Although this number would be disappointing
in a normal year, it was astonishing considering the trepidation
that most people felt toward traveling or attending conferences
of this magnitude. This turnout was a testament to the high quality
of educational content and activities and to the dedication of
the ASA members who planned these activities since the last meeting.
Furthermore, strong support was shown by President George W. Bush
who addressed the ASA House of Delegates by video (see
article below). By the end of the meeting, it was clear that
ASA, its members and the specialty of anesthesiology, like the
President and United States itself, were understandably shaken
but undeniably unbowed.
Highlights of the meeting included installation of ASA President
Barry M. Glazer, M.D., of Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Glazer
has served as President-Elect (1999-00), Speaker of the House
of Delegates (1994-99), Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates
(1991-94), Alternate Director (1987-91), Delegate (1980-91) and
as Chair of the Committee on Communications (1989-91). He is Staff
Anesthesiologist and former Chair (1986, 1989-90, 1995-96) of
the Department of Anesthesiology, St. Francis Hospital Center,
Beech Grove, Indiana.
| James E. Cottrell,
M.D., was installed as President-Elect. He hasserved as
First Vice-President (2000-01), Vice-President for Scientific
Affairs (1998-00), Chair and Vice-Chair of the Section on
Annual Meeting and Chair of four ASA committees. Dr. Cottrell
is Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, and
Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Practice, State University
of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn, New York;
Regional Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, Long Island
College Hospital, Brooklyn; Chief of Anesthesiology, Kings
County Hospital Center, Brooklyn; Consultant, Department of
Anesthesiology, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn,
New York. |
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The 2002 ASA officers are (front
row from left): Neil Swissman, M.D.; ASA President
Barry M. Glazer, M.D.; James E. Cottrell, M.D.;
Roger W. Litwiller, M.D.; (middle row) Eugene P.
Sinclair, M.D..; Thomas H. Cromwell, M.D.; Roger
A. Moore, M.D.; Bruce F. Cullen, M.D.; (back row)
Peter L. Hendricks, M.D.; Candace E. Keller, M.D.;
and Orin F. Guidry, M.D.
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Another Welcomed Surprise:
President George W. Bush
addressed the ASA House of Delegates on Sunday, October
14, 2001, in a videotaped message.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you very
much. I’m honored to have this opportunity to
speak to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
During the past few days, our
nation has experienced one of the darkest moments in
our history. Yet, even in the midst of this tragedy,
the eternal lights of America’s goodness and greatness
have shown through. We’ve seen it in the countless
Americans who gave blood or donated money. We’ve
seen it in the tales of heroic police officers and firemen
who went into the World Trade Centers to save lives.
And we’ve seen it in the simple, yet profound,
gestures of love and patriotism from every part of the
American family.
It’s been said that public
service is not limited to public office. And the events
of the past few days have shown how true that is.
I want to thank all of you in the American Society
of Anesthesiologists for doing your part during the
difficult past few days. Whether it was the doctors
who worked overtime to help victims in New York and
Washington or those who gave money and offered prayers,
our nation is blessed by so many dedicated health
care professionals.
But the business of our nation
goes forward. America faces many challenges, including
those in health care. Let me be clear about this —
we will win the war on terrorism, and we will also
continue to fight important battles at home. And that
means my administration remains committed to improving
the quality of health care for all Americans and improving
Medicare for all seniors.
My administration remains committed
to passing a real patients’ bill of rights. With
your help, we’ll pass a bill that puts the care
of patients in the hands of doctors, not trial lawyers.
I will continue to support common sense reforms that
enhance the rights of the patient without unnecessarily
raising the cost of health care and increasing the
number of uninsured. And I believe this can be done.
The compromise Congressman
Norwood and I forged this summer and passed by the
House of Representatives represents the best and most
real solution. Simply put, it achieves both the goals
of improving the quality of health without unnecessarily
raising health care costs.
And for our seniors, we’re
committed to reforming Medicare. For too long, too
many doctors and too many Medicare patients have had
to fight not only illness, but also bureaucracy. My
goal in reforming Medicare is to make it less bureaucratic
and more efficient.
Here are the main principles
for strengthening and improving Medicare: Nobody on
Medicare will see any change in Medicare unless he
or she wants it. There will be new Medicare choices,
and all of these new choices will offer prescription
drugs.
Medicare plans will compete
by offering better service and lower premiums. Medicare
will respond better to the needs of seniors, especially
low-income seniors and seniors with high medical bills.
And Medicare modernization will strengthen the program’s
long-term financial security.
These are principles which
will strengthen one of our nation’s most sacred
obligations, the health of our senior citizens. We
will protect seniors now, offering exciting new services
and more choices to seniors in the future, and guarantee
prescription drug coverage. And we will do it without
overtaxing our children and our grandchildren.
Medicine is constantly improving.
Medicare must keep pace. That’s my administration’s
commitment today and its exciting new vision for health
care in America.
Again, thank you all for allowing
me to join you. And thanks for all you are doing to
make America great. God bless you all. And may God
bless America.
Exclusive reprint permission granted by the White
House to the ASA Newsletter.
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2002 PBLD Program — Open
Call for Case Submissions
Meg A. Rosenblatt, M.D., Chair
Committee on Problem-Based Learning Discussions
The 10th year of the Problem-Based Learning Discussion
(PBLD) Program at the ASA Annual Meeting included
many new cases chosen from the open selection process.
In an effort to maintain the vitality and relevance
of the PBLD program, the Committee on Problem-Based
Learning Discussions again wishes to solicit new cases
for possible inclusion in the 2002 program.
Any member of ASA is invited to submit a PBLD case
to the committee for review and possible selection
for the 2002 ASA Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
We are looking for controversial topics, compelling
true cases and areas where there are content gaps
in the current program.
For the 2002 program, all cases both new and old
will be reviewed by the committee for their relevance,
enigma, content, conformity to guidelines and clarity
of presentation. This year, for the first time,
all cases must be submitted online. All
submissions must conform to the guidelines for PBLD
cases as described in the 2001 Problem-Based Learning
Discussion CD-ROM and on the ASA Web site <www.ASAhq.org/
AnnMtg/PBLD>. These include: title, objectives,
case, model case discussion and references.
Electronic submission will begin December 15,
2001.
Deadline for submission of PBLD cases is February
15, 2002.
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