Leveraging Assets and Talents to Strengthen and Sustain Our
Specialty

s noted in the “FAER Report” of the March 2006 ASA NEWSLETTER, for the past three years, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) has convened a retreat of various leaders in our specialty to discuss challenges and future trends in anesthesiology. During these retreats, extensive discussions have occurred involving the future of academic anesthesiology and the implications of future paradigms of anesthesiology practice. It was concluded that a much-needed approach to improve scholarly productivity in the specialty would be best directed at the subspecialty training programs.

As a result, a fourth FAER-sponsored retreat was held in Boston at the end of April 2006 involving representation from anesthesiology organizations, including most subspecialty societies. The purpose of the retreat was to discuss how to advance science and train physicians in the specialty. Invitees included representatives of the subspecialty organizations, ASA, FAER, the American Board of Anesthesiology and the Residency Review Committee for Anesthesiology.

Attendees included the following individuals as representatives for their respective groups:

ASA
Orin F. Guidry, M.D.

American Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists
Douglas B. Coursin, M.D.
Heidi B. Kummer, M.D., Ph.D.

Association of University Anesthesiologists
Roberta L. Hines, M.D.

International Anesthesia Research Society
Donald S. Prough, M.D.

Massachusetts Medical Society
Alan M. Harvey, M.D.

Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia
Lucinda L. Everett, M.D.

Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists
Daniel M. Thys, M.D.

Society for Education in Anesthesia
Catherine K. Lineberger, M.D.
Scott A. Schartel, D.O.

Society of Neurosurgical Anesthesia and Critical Care
W. Scott Jellish, M.D., Ph.D.

Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology
William R. Camann, M.D.
McCallum R. Hoyt, M.D.

Society for Pediatric Anesthesia
Francis X. McGowan, M.D.
Mark A. Rockoff, M.D.

FAER
Arnold J. Berry, M.D., M.P.H.
Joanne M. Conroy, M.D.
D. David Glass, M.D.
Alexander A. Hannenberg, M.D.
Charles W. Otto, M.D.
Myer H. Rosenthal, M.D.
Alan D. Sessler, M.D.
Mark A. Warner, M.D.
Staff members Carol Demulling and Mary Schrandt

Dr. Glass, M.D., vice-chair of the FAER Board of Directors, chaired the meeting and facilitated the discussion. The goal for this meeting was to listen to each subspecialty’s perspective to better understand how to develop the agenda and goals to strengthen and sustain the initial progress that is being made in our research, education and training efforts. Common themes emerging from the discussion included the following points:

• Outcomes-related research;

• Multicenter and multidisciplinary research studies participation;

• Examination of trainee tracks in preparation for shift in paradigm;

• Partnering to develop synergism necessary to strengthen the skills of and care provided by anesthesiologists; and

• Fellowship research training requirements.

In conclusion attendees at the meeting agreed that it seems optimal for all the major anesthesiology organizations to work together, perhaps with the leadership of FAER or the ASA Committee on Academic Anesthesiology, to develop concrete proposals to address the current challenges. A unified approach is likely to be more successful than piecemeal changes by individual groups to address the widely perceived problem that the current system is not producing enough anesthesiologists capable of conducting the high-quality research necessary for anesthesiology to thrive or practitioners who will be optimally prepared to manage the full range of needs of hospitalized patients, especially as hospitals turn more into intensive or intermediate care units.

The ASA Committee on Academic Anesthesiology will convene on May 12 in Tucson, Arizona, at which time input from the “Retreat IV” discussion will be reviewed and discussed. Further discussion will continue with the ASA leadership and the committee. Comments, suggestions and input from members and other groups are welcome. Please send us your feedback by visiting <www.faer.org/feedback.php>.

FAER Pediatrics Research Council Request for Applications

n anticipation of the August 15, 2006 and February 15, 2007 application deadlines for FAER Research Grants, FAER, through its Pediatrics Research Council, is seeking research funding applications to promote and encourage research in pediatric anesthesiology through basic, translational, patient-oriented and population-based investigations. Studies in the biology of anesthesia in the developing organism and studies on the plasticity and programming associated with anesthesia experienced during development are especially encouraged.

Applications will be evaluated and scored through the same process as other FAER grant applications. Information regarding FAER grants and application materials is available at <faer.org/grants.php>.

• “Frameworks to evaluate safety, efficacy, competency and outcomes in patient populations with pain from preclinical to clinical settings.”

• “Studies in the area of physician education in pain medicine.”

Although applications for all categories of FAER grants are welcome, applications for Research Starter Grants are especially encouraged. Applications will be evaluated and scored through the same process as other FAER grant applications. Information regarding FAER grants guidelines and application materials can be viewed at <faer.org/grants.php>.

FAER Geriatrics Research Council Request For Applications

hrough its Geriatrics Research Council, FAER is seeking applications for research funding for studies that will identify factors associated with or predictive of perioperative complications in geriatric patients.

Although applications for all categories of FAER grants are welcome, applications for Research Starter Grants are especially encouraged. Applications will be evaluated and scored through the same process as other FAER grant applications. The next deadline for receipt of grant applications for this geriatric research funding is August 15, 2006. Information regarding FAER grants and application materials is available at <faer.org/grants.php>.