Another Busy Year for SOAP

The 2003-04 academic year has been a busy time for the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) and obstetric (OB) anesthesiology. At the 2003 ASA Annual Meeting last October, SOAP sponsored the Sol M. Shnider, M.D., Breakfast Panel titled “The Future of Obstetric Anesthesiology.” The high level of attendance underscored the strong interest among ASA meeting attendees for quality educational programs in OB anesthesiology. In addition the SOAP-Anesthesiology Research Symposium featured oral presentations of exceptional laboratory and clinical research in OB anesthesiology.

Currently we are preparing for the 2004 SOAP Annual Meeting on May 12-16, at the Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa in Fort Myers, Florida. The program committee has assembled a series of interesting educational events. In addition to oral and poster presentations, the 2004 SOAP Annual Meeting will offer debates, panel discussions and invited lectures on a variety of topics related to OB anesthesiology. We are evaluating a record number of abstract submissions for the 2004 meeting, following the January 30 deadline. All ASA members are cordially invited to attend the 2004 SOAP meeting, and there is a discount on registration until April 1, 2004. Please visit our Web site for more details <www.soap.org>.

On November 1, 2003, SOAP changed its society management from Ruggles to the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS). Our new address and contact information are listed at the end of this article. SOAP also is in the process of renewing its contractual affiliation with Anesthesiology.

ASA is modifying its Annual Meeting to include “subspecialty tracks.” SOAP members are actively assisting ASA in the design of the OB anesthesia track for the 2004 ASA Annual Meeting, which will take place on October 23-27, 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

SOAP is concerned about the long-term impact of the decreased number of trainees in anesthesiology subspecialty fellowships. So far critical care medicine has been the most severely affected subspecialty. Accurate data on the number of OB anesthesiology fellows are not available, although a downward trend is apparent to most observers. A decrease in anesthesiology subspecialty fellows is an impediment to the continued development of anesthesiology faculty and a threat to the educational integrity of anesthesiology residency programs.

The Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Anesthesiology from the Residency Review Committee contains the following statement: “The faculty should have varying interests, capabilities and backgrounds and must include individuals who have specialized expertise in the subspecialties of anesthesiology. … Didactic and clinical teaching must be provided by faculty with documented interests and expertise in the subspecialty involved.” SOAP is considering an application to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for approval of OB anesthesiology fellowships. The motivations are faculty development, maintenance of curriculum quality and improved fellowship funding. We are not interested in restricting the practice of OB anesthesiology to subspecialists.

The entire OB anesthesiology community is saddened by the recent death of Gertie Marx, M.D., on January 25, 2004, after a lengthy illness. She was 91 years old. Dr. Marx was a dedicated and humane pioneer in the field of OB anesthesiology. She led by example in patient care, teaching and research. Additional details, including a suggestion for memorial contributions, are located on the SOAP Web site.

SOAP
2 Summit Park Drive, #140
Cleveland, OH 44131-2571
Telephone: (216) 447-7863
Fax: (216) 642-1127
e-mail: <soaphq@soap.org>
Web site: <www.soap.org>

Richard N. Wissler, M.D., Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.