Announcing the Future of Anesthesiology Education

The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) Board of Directors is pleased to announce award recipients from the February 2003 submissions. We appreciate the work done by the applicants and review committee, and we thank our sponsors for their generous contributions that allow the funding of these awards. The descriptions of the projects were provided by the investigators.

Research Education Grants ($25,000 for two years)

Raymond A. Zollo, M.D., University of Rochester, Rochester, New York: “Using Standardized Patients to Investigate Patient-Centered Preoperative Communication.” Mentor: Denham S. Ward, M.D., Ph.D.

The more than 30 million procedures performed with anesthesia annually represent an important life-stress for many patients and is a time of critical interaction with the health care system. The ability to effectively communicate with patients is vital to the successful practice of anesthesiology and is necessary to obtain accurate patient information, reduce patient anxiety, prevent medical errors and lessen pain. Numerous studies point to the importance of effective provider-patient communication in improving patient outcomes. As important as the anesthesiologist-patient interaction is, there have been no direct observational studies of the interaction between the anesthesiologist and patient in the preoperative setting. This project utilizes “Standardized Patients” (actors trained to accurately portray patients) to systematically study the anesthesiologist-patient interaction in the preoperative setting. It is hoped that the lessons learned from this study will help anesthesiologists at all levels of training improve their communication skills. This will lead to improved patient outcomes and increased patient satisfaction.

Research Starter Grants ($85,000 for two years)

Mark A. Gerhardt, M.D., Ph.D., Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio: “Acute Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Desensitization During Left Ventricular Assist Device Support in an Animal Model of Ischemic Heart Failure.” Mentor: Feivos Christofi, Ph.D.

 

During chronic heart failure (CHF), myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors (ßAR) undergo desensitization with dampening of the signal transduction pathways in response to chronic elevations of plasma catecholamines; this phenomenon only increases the burden on the failing heart. Cardiopulmonary bypass relieves the failing heart of its workload; however, this therapy also has been implicated in inducing acute receptor desensitization that worsens ßAR function in the already depressed myocardium. It is unknown whether mechanical support with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) also creates additional receptor dysfunction.

Using a large animal model of CHF developed by our laboratory, we will test the hypothesis that mechanical assistance of chronic ischemic heart failure with a centrifugal LVAD results in acute myocardial ßAR desensitization. Additionally, we will determine if ßAR density decreases following LVAD support, if ßARs uncouple from adenylyl cyclase activation following LVAD support and if plasma catecholamine levels increase following LVAD support.

[More award recipients will be featured in the next “FAER Report.”]