2004 Resident Research
Forum: What Happened in Vegas Should NOT Stay in
Vegas!
Nabil M. Elkassabany,
M.D.
he inaugural ASA Resident Research Forum was held
this past October in Las Vegas, Nevada, and contrary
to the now-common phrase, “What Happens in Vegas,
stays in Vegas,” I hope that our activities
are spread nationwide.
New to the ASA Annual Meeting agenda this year, the
Resident Research Forum provided hundreds of residents
and fellows a forum to share their findings and pose
new questions. Presenting were residents from various
training programs from across the United States as
well as a smattering of European fellows.
The presentation area was divided into smaller sessions,
each with a common theme representing a subspecialty
of clinical anesthesiology such as pediatrics, obstetrics,
neuroanesthesiology, cardiothoracic and critical care.
Basic science research also was represented in one
of the display sessions. Susan L. Polk, M.D., Professor
of Clinical Anesthesia and Critical Care, University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, moderated the forum.
In addition a handful of top researchers in anesthesiology
were available for discussions of the posters, including
Paul G. Barash, M.D., Edmond I. Eger II, M.D., Ronald
D. Miller, M.D., Michael F. Roizen, M.D., Daniel I.
Sessler, M.D., and M. Christine Stock, M.D. The poster
display took place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. One or two
judges were assigned for discussion of the posters
in each session.
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| The Resident Research
Forum had a banner year in 2004. Many of the
participants already have promising academic
careers. |
Personally, presenting my work on epidural anesthesia’s
relationship to the rate of cesarean section to my
future colleagues and academic leaders was a bit of
a challenge, but it turned out to be a very good learning
experience. The atmosphere of the discussion was friendly,
scientific and professional. Aside from the science
of the session, I had the chance to meet with residents
from different parts of the country and overseas.
We discussed similarities and differences in our training
and the future of our research and our profession
as a whole.
Going forward, I have three recommendations to help
to promote the Resident Research Forum for the upcoming
2005 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. First,
designate awards for distinguished posters in a manner
similar to the essay contest. This incentive would
spark debate and improve overall quality of the presentations.
Second, provide financial support, at least in part,
for the presenting residents to cover travel and accommodation
expenses. Most subspecialty meetings do this, and
I consider this to be a practical way to draw larger
attendance; perhaps ASA could preview abstracts and
select presenters to financially support. Finally,
increased awareness of the event is needed in the
form of a more visible venue and greater advertisement
in ASA promotional materials. The presentation site
in Las Vegas suffered from a lack of accessibility
and advertisement.
The benefits of a vibrant annual ASA Resident Research
Forum are enormous. As well as serving as a presentation
opportunity for future anesthesiologists to cross-pollinate
ideas, it also can be a recruiting combine for academic
departments interested in identifying junior faculty
candidates. Judging by the scope and depth of presented
research, many residents participating in the Las
Vegas session have met success in their academic endeavors.
Many have promising careers in academic anesthesiology.
By making sure that what happened in Vegas does not
stay in Vegas but instead grows into an annual component
of the ASA Annual Meeting, I hope that the Resident
Research Forum will be a tool for the growth of our
profession.
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Nabil
M. Elkassabany, M.D., is a CA-2 resident, Division
of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine,
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio. |
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