Residents Indulge
in ‘Chicago Buffet’ at the ASA Annual
Meeting
Christopher R. Cook D.O., President-Elect
ASA Resident Component
 s
I waited in line for breakfast on the final day of
this year’s ASA Annual Meeting, the comparison
of the bounty before me and the numerous opportunities
available at the meeting was simple but profound.
I observed different anesthesiologists (identifiable
by their flamboyant colored badges) choosing the delectable
items according to their palates’ preferences
that morning. Herbivores, carnivores and, of course,
the moderate omnivores (like myself) had it their
way. The wonderful breakfast buffet at this year’s
meeting had something for everyone. Whether you were
a politician, a researcher or a social butterfly,
Chicago had it all.
Day 1
Like the way many people start a buffet, we started
the resident activities with “the meat”
or politics of our specialty. Thus the first resident
function of the conference was the Grassroots Advocacy/Leadership
Training Workshop. The panel included ASA Resident
Component officers and ASA Director of Governmental
Affairs and General Counsel Ronald Szabat, J.D. They
reported that a fix for the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) teaching rule and the current
flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula was in
reach but required the full support of the ASA membership
through ASA Political Action Committee (ASAPAC) contributions,
e-mails, letters and telephone calls to Congress.
It was reiterated that the CMS teaching rule has drained
and continues to drain our teaching programs by approximately
$400,000 per program per year. Most Medicare reimbursement
policy private payers have decided to follow suit
and pay with the same method. The SGR formula for
Medicare reimbursement compounds the issue with a
planned 5.1-percent reduction in payment to anesthesiologists
beginning January 1, 2007. More cuts are anticipated
in the future based on the current formula.
The panel also emphasized that we must be active during
this crucial time and that a tangible expression of
our commitment to our specialty was to pay our ASAPAC
and state PAC dues. Currently ASAPAC dues for residents
are a mere $20 dollars per year. Resident PAC participation
is approximately 9 percent, a remarkably low percentage
considering what we stand to lose or gain. The resident
delegation from Alabama must be recognized for 100-percent
resident PAC participation. For further information
on ASAPAC, visit <www2.ASAhq.org/pac/web/>
or follow the links through the “Members Only”
section of the ASA Web site <www.ASAhq.org>.
Day 2
Day two of the conference started with the ASA Resident
Component (ASARC) House of Delegates, which gave residents
the opportunity to present and debate resolutions.
Resolutions that passed the House of Delegates and
that will be forwarded to the ASA House include Resolution
6, encouraging ASA to ensure that resident insurance
policies cover rehabilitative services for substance
addiction. As a body, we also passed Resolution 8,
asking that the ASA House create an independent medical
student component. Similarly the House passed ASARC
Resolution 9, calling for ASA to study the feasibility
of a rural anesthesiology elective for interested
CA-3 residents.
The Resident Component officers each reported on the
year’s accomplishments, which represented an
unprecedented amount of activity. We are extremely
appreciative of the establishment of the five $1,000
grants for ASA resident delegates to host regional
meetings and the major modifications to the ASARC
Web site, which has improved our communications tremendously.
Finally, the ASARC elected its officers. Congratulations
to the new ASA Resident Component Officers: Secretary
Melissa Matte, M.D.; American Medical Association
(AMA) Alternate Delegate Joseph A. Walker III, M.D.;
and “Residents’ Review” Co-Editor
Anagh A. Vora, M.D. And I would like to thank you
for selecting me as President-Elect. We look forward
to supporting our officers who are continuing in their
terms: President Paloma Toledo; M.D.; AMA Delegate
Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D.; Residency Review Committee
for Anesthesiology Representative Maggie A. Jeffries,
M.D.; and “Residents’ Review” Co-Editor
Michael S. Axley, M.D. A huge round of applause to
the outgoing officers for the lasting contribution
to our Society: Immediate Past President Benjamin
D. Unger, M.D.; AMA Delegate Jerome Adams, M.D.; Secretary
Joshua H. Atkins, M.D.; and “Residents’
Review” Co-Editor Warren K. Eng, M.D. We are
indebted for their service both at this year’s
meeting and for their terms of service to the ASARC.
Days 3, 4 and 5
Many participants took advantage of the resident-specific
seminars and workshops. The Resident Practice Management
Seminar was an invaluable experience allowing residents
to compare both academic and private practice career
paths and to better decipher the intricacies of contract
negotiation. In addition we learned about anesthesia-related
compliance issues with regard to Medicare. The Resident
Research Forum gave our up-and-coming physician scientists
a forum in which to present their studies and to compete
for Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research
scholarships.
The Regional Anesthesia Workshop presented a hands-on
format to learn ultrasound-guided and neurostimulator
techniques for peripheral nerve blocks with the experts
in this subspecialty. One of my personal favorite
activities was the Resident Communication Seminar
— a fantastic setting to witness and practice
interviews, public speaking and nonverbal communication
skills.
We completed the tour of the ASA buffet, but no banquet
would be complete without dessert. By far, the desserts
of the meeting were the resident social functions.
After the conference days ended, the real opportunity
arose to experience the Chicago nightlife, to network
and to build lifetime contacts with residents from
other cities.
As president-elect of the ASA Resident Component,
I encourage you to not only come and enjoy the buffet
at the ASA Annual Meeting but also to partake from
the cornucopia of leadership, scholarship and service
opportunities ASA has to offer.
I would like to call all future leaders of anesthesiology
to check the ASARC Web site <www.ASAhq.org/asarc/index.html>
for the latest calendar of events in the coming year.
Be sure to view the monthly NEWSLETTER and
sign up for the listserve and podcasts to receive
updates on ASARC activity. Please contact me at <cc145239@bcm.tmc.edu>
if I can be of service or if you have any questions.
Call for Residents to Serve
on ASA Committees:
Each year ASA invites residents to serve as adjunct
members on several of its committees. This is a great
opportunity for a resident to learn more about how
ASA operates, and it also benefits the committee by
bringing a resident perspective to discussions. For
a full list of committees available and more information
on the committee appointment process, please visit
the ASA Web site at <www.ASAhq.org/aboutASA/asaCommitteeListing.htm>.
Residents who would like to be nominated to serve
on a committee should submit a curriculum vitae and
letter specifying why they are interested in a specific
committee to Paloma Toledo, M.D., at <paloma@alumni.duke.edu>.
Deadline for submission is December 22, 2006.
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Christopher R. Cook, D.O., is a CA-2 Resident
at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
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