FAER Annual Meeting Wrap-Up

ith your help, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) continues to make tremendous strides in expanding and fortifying the domain of anesthesiology. In 2004 we committed to invest almost $2 million in the FAER/ASA Research Program, added the first research stipend for mentors of FAER grants, expanded the opportunities for residents to partake in the ASA Annual Meeting, created the Medical School Student Fellowship program and established the Academy of Anesthesia Mentors to reward those mentors who have done so much to help to develop new investigators for our specialty. We could not have done so much without your time and talents.

Resident Scholar Program
FAER again supported the Resident Scholars Program during the ASA Annual Meeting, which took place on October 23-27, 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The program provided an excellent opportunity for selected residents to become acquainted with the many educational, scientific and political activities that affect the specialty. Selected scholars had an opportunity to participate in refresher courses and interact with leaders in the anesthesiology community. Participants, identified from among the most academically promising CA-1 residents across the country, were chosen by their department chairs as being the best qualified and most committed to a career in research and education. New to the program in 2004 was an opportunity for the Resident Scholars to learn more about the Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA) by participating as a SEA/Resident Scholar and attending the SEA Annual Meeting held on October 22, a day before the ASA Annual Meeting. Attending the 2004 meeting were 61 Resident Scholars, of which 21 also participated as SEA Scholars.

Through the generosity of Abbott Laboratories in providing support to this educational opportunity, a grant of $1,000 was provided to each participating anesthesiology program to help provide this educational opportunity for a resident at the meeting.

Celebration of Research
The Celebration of Research luncheon was held on Monday, October 25, with approximately 500 anesthesiologists in attendance. Opening comments from Michael M. Todd, M.D., preceded presentations by ASA award recipients. Warren Zapol, M.D., Anesthetist-in-Chief at Massachusetts General Hospital, introduced Award for Excellence in Research recipient Clifford J. Woolf, M.D., Ph.D. Margaret Wood, M.B., Ch.B., Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University, introduced second annual Presidential Scholar Award recipient H. Thomas Lee, M.D., Ph.D. Winners of the Residents’ Research Essay Awards, as determined by committee review of full-length manuscripts, were introduced and included: George Gallos, M.D., Columbia University, New York, New York; Claudia Benkwitz, M.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison; and Jacob Raphael, M.D., Hadassah Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.

Fourth Annual FAER Honorary Research Lecture
David C. Warltier, M.D., Ph.D., presented the fourth annual FAER Honorary Research Lecture following the Celebration of Research luncheon. FAER created this annual lectureship as a means of recognizing outstanding scholarship by an anesthesiologist in an effort to encourage young anesthesiologists to consider careers in research and teaching, which are crucial if anesthesiology is to maintain its reputation as a medical specialty continuously striving for excellence in patient care. Dr. Warltier was formally recognized for his outstanding contributions to the development of anesthesiology through his enthusiasm and energy as an anesthesiologist, scientist, teacher and mentor. The title of Dr. Warltier’s lecture, “Protection Against Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury,” is a result of his earlier work on ischemic preconditioning and his discovery of the ability of volatile anesthetics to provide protection from myocardial ischemia through activation of adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channels. Knowledge gained from his research has resulted in a new and more detailed understanding of the interaction of anesthetics and ischemic myocardium at the cellular level.

FAER Panel
The FAER Panel “Reaping the Fruits of Research—Turning Great Ideas Into Marketable Products” was held immediately following Dr. Warltier’s lecture. Attendees were presented with an opportunity to understand the obstacles and opportunities involved in bringing innovative ideas to practical use, including such issues as conflict of interest, risk sharing and rewarding and the relationships among industry, the university and faculty. Sean K. Kennedy, M.D., member of the FAER Board of Directors and Chief of Anesthesiology, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, moderated the panel. Panelists and discussion topics included Warren Zapol, M.D., Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, “Bringing Nitric Oxide From the Bench to the Bedside”; Steve L. Shafer, M.D., staff anesthesiologist at Palo Alto VA Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, “Industry and Academia — The Academic Entrepreneur”; Joseph G. Reves, M.D., Dean, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, “Industry and the University: The Institutional Perspective”; and Charles H. McLeskey, M.D., Global Medical Director, Anesthesia/Sedation, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, “The Industry Perspective.”

Academy of Anesthesia Mentors
The FAER Academy of Anesthesia Mentors held its first meeting on Friday, October 22, at the ASA Annual Meeting. The purpose of the Academy is to foster the growth of scholarly activities in research and education beyond funding investigator-initiated research proposals. The Academy is a highly select group of individuals with a common goal of serving as a resource for the development of new mentors and role models for academic anesthesiology. They promote, foster and enhance mentorship and academic career development through educational programs, seminars and workshops at national meetings. FAER is pleased and proud to have initiated this effort.

As we welcome 2005, for these and many other important reasons, please consider supporting FAER. Donation forms are available online at <www.faer.org>.

FAER Board of Director Elections
During the ASA 2004 Annual Meeting, the following changes were made to the FAER Board of Directors:

Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., was elected Chair and succeeds Myer H. Rosenthal, M.D., Immediate Past President. D. David Glass, M.D., was elected Vice-Chair following Dr. Conroy. Denham S. Ward, M.D., Ph.D., continues as Secretary to the Board, and Ms. Suzanne Anderson continues as Treasurer. Donn M. Dennis, M.D., and Bruce F. Cullen, M.D., were elected to new terms as regular members of the FAER Board of Directors. Charles W. Otto, M.D., elected ASA Vice-President for Scientific Affairs during the Annual Meeting, will now serve as an ex-officio member of the board.

Additional board membership currently includes:

James F. Arens, M.D.
Arnold J. Berry, M.D.
Alex S. Evers, M.D.
Simon Gelman, M.D., Ph.D.
Alan W. Grogono, M.D.
Orin F. Guidry, M.D.
Steven C. Hall, M.D.
Alexander A. Hannenberg, M.D.
Joanne Jene, M.D.
Glenn W. Johnson
John P. Kampine, M.D., Ph.D.
Sean K. Kennedy, M.D.
Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D.
Monte Lichtiger, M.D.
Ronald D. Miller, M.D.
Ronald G. Pearl, M.D., Ph.D.
Myer H. Rosenthal, M.D.
M. Christine Stock, M.D.
James R. Zaidan, M.D.