SA was founded in 1905 when nine medical colleagues from Long Island, New York, organized the first professional anesthesia society. As its purpose and scope of involvement in anesthesia-related issues grew and attracted other interested physicians nationwide, the Society changed its name to the American Society of Anesthetists in 1935 and then to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in 1945. This year we will celebrate ASA’s centennial as a professional society. Although FAER will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2006, ASA’s commitment to research and education has a much longer tenure.

In 1962 ASA established one of its most successful programs, an award for excellence in research by resident physicians. ASA awarded two prizes annually from 1962 until 1971. These awards included recognition at the ASA Annual Meeting, a small monetary award and a plaque presented at an ASA House of Delegates meeting. Academic departments and anesthesiologists viewed these awards as very prestigious.

In 1973 ASA began another program to support research in anesthesiology. ASA provided peer review of initial projects by promising young anesthesiologists with the intention that the review would improve their ability to compete for research funding. In 1980 ASA added a $15,000 award to support the first ASA resident research fellow.

The tremendous member interest in this review process and the research scholarship program created many opportunities to increase valuable and needed research in anesthesiology. Thus in 1986, ASA created FAER to manage funds from industry intended for research in anesthesiology. Consistent with the purposes of ASA to further scientific research in anesthesiology, FAER was committed to fostering research and education in the field through the appropriate solicitation and administration of funds to support these purposes. FAER developed an “arm’s length” mechanism to support worthy scientific projects with unrestricted industry contributions.

FAER funding was awarded to postresidency fellows or junior faculty during their first years of academic practice. A 1995 survey of former recipients of these research funds found them to be both academically productive and successful in obtaining subsequent funding. FAER invested less than $6 million in recipients who subsequently received funding of more than $100 million. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided 63 percent of this funding, while industry contributed approximately 16 percent. This was an impressive 17:1 return on investment. These former FAER recipients have mentored 1,004 young researchers, have published an average of 17 peer-reviewed papers, spend about 30 percent of their time in research and 96 percent have remained in academic medicine. FAER recipients believed that the ASA/FAER funding made a critical difference in their careers.

Over the last six years, FAER has increased efforts to develop and support both anesthesia research and the development of young scholars. We have increased the award amounts significantly, resulting in a dramatic increase in applications for the Research Starter Grant, Mentored Research Training Grant, the Research Fellowship Grant and the Research Education Grant. The number of applications has nearly doubled since 2003. In 2003 FAER helped to organize the Academy of Mentors in order to recognize 23 anesthesiology researchers who have given selflessly of their time to assist in the mentoring of an entire generation of young academic anesthesiologists. We continue to sponsor more than 60 Resident Scholars at each ASA Annual Meeting with generous support from Abbott Laboratories. We have initiated a new medical student fellowship program. In the first year of this program, we received more than 40 applications. These students represent the future of our specialty as a leader in the new knowledge economy.

Looking forward to the next 100 years, FAER goals are simple:

• Engage students early in their training and keep them engaged;

• Reward and encourage research in resident education and anesthesia fellowships;

• Obtain national recognition for research and work to establish an anesthesia NIH study section; and

• Leverage training grants to support scholarly activity.

FAER’s mission requires the support of our entire membership. These investments are not just in the individual researchers … they are investments in the future of our specialty.

This year during the ASA centennial celebration, ASA members have a unique opportunity to begin a tradition of giving. Invest in FAER or in any of ASA’s foundations. Your FAER dollars represent an investment in the future of anesthesia research. Remember you do not have to conduct research in order to support it. Creative personal generosity is as essential now as it always has been. “In our knowledge-based economy, ideas begat new ideas, technologies ensure newer technologies, and new ideas and new technologies build more of each.”* Large donors and first-time givers as well as those who have given steadily, philanthropically, we ask you to continue to support, dollar by dollar, the future of research in anesthesia education. Many of our anesthesia scientists began their research careers with FAER grants. Help us to continue to invest in and create the next generation of scientists, physician mentors and anesthesia leaders.

“Most people in the world thinks that Americans are generous because we are rich. But the truth is that we are rich because we are generous.”*

Thank you for your past and future support! We look forward to a busy and productive 2005.

From the FAER Board of Directors and staff, congratulations ASA on your first 100 years!

*From The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the American Economy and Can Save Capitalism by Claire Gaudiani.

Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer and Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Western Region Atlantic Health System, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, New Jersey.

Myer H. Rosenthal, M.D., is Professor of Anesthesiology, Medicine and Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.

Alan D. Sessler, M.D., is President, Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research, and Professor and Chair Emeritus, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

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