From Idealism to
Reality: Review of the Resident Component Annual
Meeting
E. Olita Layton, M.D., Chair
Resident Component Governing Council
usiness, government, politics … words
at which physicians-in-training previously cringed.
Nowadays, however, medical students and residents
actively seek education in these areas because the
once-hallowed ground of medicine has become entrenched
in financial and public policy debate. While we continue
to enter this honorable field with the same ideals
as our predecessors, we also are acutely aware that
difficult issues, such as patient safety and access
to care, are being discussed in the media, legislatures
and boardrooms across the country. Our generation
of physicians will not be apathetic; our
heads will not be buried in the sand as pivotal
decisions are made. This is the new ASA Political
Action Committee (ASAPAC) mantra, and it is reflective
of the next-generation physician’s interest
in public policy medical issues. It is ASAPAC’s
goal to assist anesthesiologists nationwide in embracing
this philosophy.
Freedom and capitalism have shaped medicine into a
field that requires continuous research, patient advocacy
in government and business savvy in order to balance
access to care with quality of care.
Consequently, ASA leadership initiated this year a
variety of activities to promote medical student and
resident development as competent physicians beyond
clinical skills. This is the resident component goal
in the 100th year of ASA: to foster well-rounded physician
education by challenging each resident to get involved
in the wide range of activities sponsored by ASA and
local medical societies.
Leadership Training/Grassroots Advocacy Workshop
This annual program offered a forum for detailed discussion
on current events in medicine. The growing pessimism
portrayed by the national media about safety in surgical
offices led to a discussion on the future of office-based
surgery, an issue that could change the course of
our specialty. Thereafter ASA counsel opened a forum
for questions about current public policy issues.
Resident Research Forum
The ASA leadership discussions focused on the future
of research in anesthesia. ASA 2004 President Roger
W. Litwiller, M.D., emphasized that compassion, science
and involvement are integrated characteristics that
shape our existence. All three are indispensable in
order to care for the patient. Science was well represented
by hundreds of residents at the first annual Resident
Research Forum. Additionally the Foundation for Anesthesia
Education and Research hosted a record 60 residents
at the meeting.
Resident Practice Management Seminar
The first ASA Resident Practice Management seminar
was a fantastic success, with nine expert speakers
and 120 residents participating in the program. Topics
ranged from malpractice to contracts to billing and
featured a panel of private-practice physicians from
across the country.
Medical Student Delegation
Nothing is more representative of the growing involvement
of young physicians in organized medicine than the
formation of the first official medical student delegation.
The inaugural ASA Medical Student Delegation will
congregate at the 2005 ASA Annual Meeting in conjunction
with the 100th anniversary of ASA. Five medical student
delegates will represent the more than 600 medical
student members of ASA. Medical student applications
can be found on the Resident Component Web site at
<www.ASAhq.org/asarc/index.html>
or by choosing the “Resident and Career Information”
link at <www.ASAhq.org>.
MOCA
Consistent with ASA’s vision, anesthesiologists
continue to assure the public of our competency by
instituting the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology
(MOCA). The Resident Component approved a resolution
to determine the extent of resident input in the formation
and implementation of MOCA requirements. More information
can be found at <www.abanes.org/about/aba_faqs.html>.
Upcoming Events
While the 2004 ASA Resident Component meeting was
a resounding success, there remains much work to be
done. I hope to see you at the various legislative,
clinical skills and advocacy meetings listed below!
Upcoming Resident
and Medical Student Activities
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| ASA Legislative Conference.
May 2-4, 2005. Washington, DC |
| Resident Component Governing
Council meetings. March 4-6,
2005, August 19-21, 2005. Chicago, IL |
| AMA Medical Student Section
2004 Annual Meeting. June 10-12,
2005. Chicago, IL |
| State anesthesiology society
meetings. <events.ASAhq.org>.
Search by your state |
| ASA Annual Meeting. October
22-26, 2005. New Orleans, LA |
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E.
Olita Layton, M.D., is a CA-3 resident at the
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. |
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