erhaps Charles H. Mayo, M.D., one of the founding brothers of the Mayo Clinic, said it best: “There are two objects of medical education, to heal the sick and advance the science.” Although not all of us are involved in research, we can all agree that it is vital to the ongoing viability and success of anesthesiology.

Not only does research advance patient care, it also helps to attract the best and the brightest to the specialty. The recent decline in anesthesiology research nationally, particularly when compared to other specialties, has attracted much scrutiny and a growing concern from the leadership of organized anesthesiology. This has led to an increasing appreciation that the mission of the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) is even more relevant today than ever before.

Many of the talented and most promising minds in anesthesiology established their careers in part with initial grant support from FAER. These FAER grant recipients have made valuable contributions to advancing anesthesiology and, in the process, enhanced the specialty’s viability.

ASA established FAER in 1986 to manage funds generously given by industry to support research in anesthesiology. Ongoing funding from anesthesiology societies and groups, including $19 million from ASA, together with the generosity of private individuals and industry partners, has sustained FAER’s effort since that time. FAER’s goal remains to identify and then financially support worthy scientific projects by junior faculty and fellows so that they can establish their credentials in academic medicine and be competitive in obtaining grant support from other sources, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The ASA Committee on Research reviews and ranks the grant proposals submitted to FAER. Over the years, almost $20 million has been committed to support approximately 500 grants. Demonstrating FAER’s broad impact on the research and education in academic departments across the country, 90 of the 120 training departments in the United States have received a grant. Almost 40 institutions have received five or more awards, 16 departments have received at least 10 grants, and a handful has obtained more than 20 FAER awards.

The breadth of accomplishments of past FAER grant recipients is impressive. Most have remained in academic medicine and many have succeeded in obtaining competitive NIH funding for future research. More than 30 have progressed to lead academic departments. Others have assumed leadership roles in national anesthesiology societies or used their knowledge and skills to become editors of anesthesiology and other medical journals. There also are a number now engaged in pharmaceutical and device research in industry.

In summary, FAER grants have been instrumental in starting the research of many leading anesthesiologists. As our specialty reinvents a secure future, increased research funding to support new investigators answering important questions becomes even more vital. All anesthesiologists have a stake in ensuring that the future practice adds value by improving the safety and quality of care, becoming more efficient and achieving cost-effective outcomes. This laudable goal is synonymous with the mission of FAER.

New Executive Director
FAER has chosen a new executive director who comes to the organization with 25 years in the communications business.

Jon D. Losness joins FAER after recently leaving the Post-Bulletin newspaper in Rochester, Minnesota, where he served as publisher and editor. Jon has also been active in the Rochester community, serving on the boards of the Rochester Area Foundation, the Salvation Army, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Child Care Resource and Referral and Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. He also served on the executive committee of a successful capital campaign for the local Salvation Army, helping to secure the campaign’s largest donation.

In the coming months, Mr. Losness and FAER President Alan D. Sessler, M.D., will work with the FAER Board and the staff to develop a long-term strategic plan and strengthen FAER’s development efforts.

Peter A. Southorn is an anesthesiologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Jon D. Losness is the new Executive Director for the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research.

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