he leadership of academic anesthesiology has long
despaired about the plight of anesthesiologist-scientists,
who obtain less than 1 percent of total National Institutes
of Health funding. The issue is described in a publication
of Anesthesiology by Debra A. Schwinn, M.D.,
and Jeffrey S. Balser, M.D.1
Development of new knowledge and engagement in rigorous
research is the intellectual foundation of every specialty.
Without such a productive base, specialties fall behind
the overall rate of progress in medical science and
die as an academic specialty, which then reverts to
an army of technicians. There are many reasons for
academic anesthesiology to fall behind some of the
other currently more vigorous medical specialties.
The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research
(FAER) Board of Directors identified the dearth of
effective mentors as one of the main reasons for the
specialty’s problems. In 2002 a Committee on
Mentoring was formed whose membership included Alex
S. Evers, M.D., Simon Gelman, M.D., Ph.D., Ronald
A. Miller, M.D., Ronald G. Pearl, M.D., Ph.D., and
Alan D. Sessler, M.D., with John P. Kampine, M.D.,
Ph.D., as Chair. The charge was to provide recommendations
for the development of academic anesthesiologists
as qualified and effective mentors.
After deliberating, the Committee on Mentoring recommended
to the FAER Board that recognized mentors be granted
a stipend in addition to the financial support to
the award recipients, i.e., mentees and junior investigator-anesthesiologists.
The FAER Board accepted the principle and created
the Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG). At present
the mentor of an approved and funded MRTG grant receives
$40,000/year in addition to the approved financial
support for the study itself. This demonstrates unequivocally
that the FAER Board sees the importance of mentoring
in the development of investigators early in their
research careers and furthermore greatly values the
efforts of mentors in developing anesthesiologist-scientists.
The Committee on Mentoring also believes strongly
that recognition beyond the financial awards is needed
for the work of the mentors. On recommendation of
the committee, the FAER Board created the Academy
of Research Mentors for Anesthesiology (ARMA). The
academy membership recognizes mentors and demonstrates
appreciation for effective mentoring and serves as
a forum where mentors share experiences and exchange
views with colleagues.
In May 2006, ARMA, under the leadership of the first
and founding President of the Academy, Dr. Kampine,
formed an Advisory Council. The council consists of
a president and president-elect or past president,
and three mentors-at-large elected from the membership
of the academy. At present, the council members are
Dr. Kampine (past president) and Dr. Gelman (president);
councilors-at-large are Zeljko J. Bosnjak, Ph.D.,
Dr. Evers and Carol A. Hirshman, M.D. The council
of the academy invites applications from present members
of the academy and department chairs in the Society
of Academic Anesthesiology Chairs/Association of Anesthesiology
Program Directors (SAAC/AAPD) to submit nominations
for the academy. At the fall meeting, the academy
discussed important topics such as selection of mentors
and the qualifications and track record requisite
to identifying good candidates.
Let me finish with the ARMA mission statement: “The
objective of the Academy is to recognize those individuals
who through their activities as mentors have contributed
importantly to the development and advancement of
academic anesthesiologists in the area of research
and have promoted the activities of mentoring among
others in their specialty increasing research activities
and promoting the academic image of anesthesiology.”
Reference:
1. Schwinn DA, Balser JR. Anesthesiology physician
scientists in academic medicine. Anesthesiology.
2006; 104:170-178.
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Simon
Gelman, M.D., Ph.D., A.N.Z.C.A., is Leroy D. Vandam/Benjamin
G. Covino Distinguished Professor of Anaesthesia,
Harvard Medical School and Chairman Emeritus,
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and
Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital,
Boston, Massachusetts. |
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FAER Research Councils Soliciting
Applications
 n
anticipation of the February 15, 2007,
application deadlines for FAER Research Grants, the
FAER Research Councils are seeking applications in
the following areas of specific interest. Applications
will be evaluated and scored through the same process
as other FAER grant applications. Information regarding
FAER grants and application materials are available
at <faer.org/grants.php>.
FAER Pediatrics Research Council Request for Applications
The FAER Pediatrics Research Council is seeking research
funding applications to promote and encourage research
in pediatric anesthesia 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.
FAER Pain Research Council Request for Applications
The FAER Pain Research Council is encouraging research
funding applications in the following area(s):
“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.
FAER Geriatrics Research Council Request for Applications
The FAER Geriatrics Research Council is seeking applications
for research funding for studies that will identify
factors that are 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.
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