| |
The ASA Self-Education and Evaluation Program, better
known as the SEE program, is but one of many continuing
medical education (CME) programs offered by ASA. It
has been my distinct pleasure for the past 11 years
to serve ASA and contribute to the work of the SEE
program, first as a question writer, then as one of
eight or nine editors, and finally, for the past five
years, as the editor-in-chief. ASA term limits require
that my tenure on the SEE editorial board come to
an end, something I greet with mixed feelings. I recognize,
however, the purpose and value of term limits. Richard
P. Dutton, M.D., will be taking over as editor-in-chief
in the year 2005.
The SEE program continues to grow in numerous ways.
Change is common. Question writers come and go, some
more quickly than others. Editors arise from the few
who seem not only interested and dedicated to the
purpose but also capable. The editorial board has
grown to 10 members so that experts from most, if
not all, subspecialties can be represented on the
board. New editors need to be appointed almost annually
due to term limits or the demands of other commitments.
It has been humbling to appoint new editors. Every
individual I have asked to be an editor has accepted
the position. I was relieved not to have asked too
many individuals if they wished to be an editor at
any one point in time.
The editorial board of the SEE program is its heart
and soul. This group of individuals dedicates four
weekends a year as well as countless other hours and
efforts to the task of producing the SEE product.
Although the quarterly board meetings are where much
of the final editorial work is completed, a significant
amount of preparatory work takes place prior to these
meetings. Additional time at the board meetings is
dedicated to discussing and making progress on efforts
to improve the SEE product. As a result of these efforts,
the SEE program now includes better discussions for
each item so that even if the initial focus of a question
is quite specific, it is put into a larger, more relevant
context. Significantly — thanks to a great degree
to the efforts of Leslie C. Jameson, M.D. —
the SEE product also now includes many more figures
and tables as illustrations. Notably the SEE program
has been available in an electronic version (CD-ROM)
for several years, and an improved version is just
being launched. Additionally, a Web-based version
of the SEE program, new in 2004, is available. Thus
paper, CD and Internet-based versions of the SEE program
will optimize access for subscribers. Of course these
efforts and results would not have come to fruition
without the great support of ASA staff, including
Director of Information Services Janice L. Plack,
Information Services Project Coordinator Carolyn Hankett
and Assistant Executive Director Denise M. Jones,
to name a few.
At a cost of $200 for ASA members, there is no less
expensive way to obtain valuable category 1 CME credits.
Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA)
requirements of the American Board of Anesthesiology
will demand 350 CME credits over 10 years. Most, if
not all, anesthesiologists will eventually face the
realities of MOCA.1
In this busy day and age, the value that the SEE program
provides in terms of content, cost and time-utilization
cannot be beat. This value is evident in the growth
in sales of the SEE program and the revenue it brings
to the ASA and ultimately its members.
I calculate that I have spent 44 weekends traveling
and working with my colleagues on the SEE program.
No longer being on the SEE board will certainly allow
me to attend more family functions or perhaps even
sleep in on a Saturday or Sunday. I will miss the
camaraderie of working with my colleagues, though
(see picture on page 24). We shared similar goals,
learned a great deal from each other and always had
a vision for what we wanted to produce. Although we
did not always achieve our desired outcome, the SEE
program and product is and will likely remain one
of the most important professional contributions and
activities in my career. I look forward to subscribing
to the SEE program myself. I am confident that, just
as I hope I did, others will continue to
join the writers and editors who produce the SEE program
and continue to strive to make it better.
 |
From left to right: James E. Rollman, M.D.,
Richard P. Dutton, M.D., Mary A. Gurkowski,
M.D., Nathan L. Pace, M.D., Leslie C. Jameson,
M.D., Brenda A. Bucklin, M.D., Stacey L. Jones,
M.D., Peter J. Bailey, M.D., James LaVelle and
David H. Sprague, M.D. |
Reference:
1. Kapur PA. ABA
update: Streamlining the MOCA process.
ASA Newsl. 2004; 68(3):19-20.
| |
|
Peter L. Bailey, M.D., is Professor of Anesthesiology
and Director of Cardiac Anesthesiology, University
of Rochester, Rochester, New York. |
|
|
return to top
|