USSA/AVAA/TAS Agenda

2026 Uniformed Services Society of Anesthesiologists (USSA)/Association of Veterans Affairs Anesthesiologists (AVAA)/Trauma Anesthesiology Society (TAS) Annual Academic Meeting

MEETING PROGRAM
Friday, October 16, 2026
San Diego Convention Center

All times are listed in Central Time.

Time	Room	Session Title	Speaker(s)
0630-0930		Registration
0700-0815		Continental Breakfast / Visit Exhibits
0730-0815		Non-CME Breakfast Symposium	Sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals
MEETING STARTS
0730-0815		VA Anesthesia Chief’s Breakfast	Informal, a couple of topics/allow for open topics by attendees (appx 10 people)
0815-0820		BREAK
0825-0840		USSA/AVAA/TAS Welcome	Houman Amirfarzan, MD President, Association of Veterans Affairs Anesthesiologists Jason R. Gillihan, MD, MBA President, Trauma Anesthesiology Society Corry “Jeb” Kucik, MD, FASA CAPT, MC, USN President, Uniformed Services Society of Anesthesiologists
0840-0925		Opening Keynote: Every Anesthesiologist’s Most Important Subspecialty: Retirement	John Capacchione, MD Adjunct Professor of Anesthesiology Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Captain (retired), Medical Corps, United States Navy GS-15 (retired)
0925-0945		ASA Welcome and Opening Remarks	Patrick Giam, MD, FASA President, American Society of Anesthesiologists
0945-1015		Activating the Brain's Arousal Systems to Reverse Drug-induced Unconsciousness	Ken Solt, MD Vice Chair of Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Mass General Brigham Edward Mallinckrodt Jr. Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School
1015-1045		BREAK
1045-1115		Austere Trauma Anesthesiology: Lessons Learned from a Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST)	Ryan Parker MD, PhD Division of Critical Care Medicine Department of Anesthesiology University of Florida
1115-1145		Seconds Count: Pediatric Trauma Management for Every Anesthesiologist	Katherine M. Slogic, MD, FASA Lt Col, USAF, MC Pediatric Anesthesiologist/Vice Chair of Education Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
1145-1215		Best Abstract Awards & Presentations
1215-1300		LUNCH
1230-1315		Non-CME Lunch Symposium	Sponsored by Pacira
1315-1335		Ready, SET, Go!: Emergency Surgical Cases Expedited Through a Protocol and Simulation	Jessica L Feinleib MD, PhD, FASA, CHSE Medical Director of Simulation VACTHS Co-Chair Code Committee VACTHS Staff Anesthesiologist VACTHS VHA OOORAM Course Director Assistant Professor, Yale School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology
		BREAKOUT SESSIONS START
		USSA BREAKOUT SESSION
1340-1455		State of Specialty – Specialty Leader Panel	Michael S. Patzkowski, MD, MHA, MHPE, FASA Colonel, Medical Corps, US Army Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, VA Mark Cheney, MD Lt Col, USAF, MC, FS University of Nebraska Medical Center Maureen M. Higgs MD, FASA CDR MC USN Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Mark Cannon, MD CAPT, MC (FMF), USN MEDHOLD Medical Director
1455-1500		BREAK
1500-1530		POCUS Forward: Prehospital Ultrasound Triage of Survivable Hemorrhage and Tension Pneumothorax — An Anesthesia, Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine Collaboration	Terence "TC" Byrne, MD LT, MC, USN CA-1 Anesthesia Portsmouth Naval Hospital John D. Mitchell MD Vice Chair for Academic Affairs Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, and Perioperative Care Henry Ford Health Professor and Vice Chair of Anesthesiology Michigan State University CHM Professor of Anesthesiology Wayne State University School of Medicine
1340-1400		[AVAA BREAKOUT SESSION] Field Advisory Board (FAB) Update	Kay B. Leissner, M.D., Ph.D. Chief, Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Service VA Boston Healthcare System Associate Professor, Boston University School of Medicine VISN 1 Chief Anesthesiology Consultant Chair, Anesthesiology Field Advisory Board U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
1400-1420		ASA: Working With AVAA to Ensure the Highest Level of Anesthesia Care for Veterans	Nora Matus Director, Congressional & Political Affairs American Society of Anesthesiologists
1420-1445		BREAK
1505-1535		AVAA Business Meeting
		TAS BREAKOUT SESSION
1340-1425		TAS Board of Directors Meeting	Jason R. Gillihan, MD, MBA President, Trauma Anesthesiology Society Meera Gangadhaarn, MD, FAAP, FASA Vice President, Trauma Anesthesiology Society Justin Knittel, MD Secretary/Treasurer, Trauma Anesthesiology Society
1425-1500		TAS Abstract Presentations	Balbino Lopez, MD Meeting Co-Chair, Trauma Anesthesiology Society
1500-1505		BREAK
1505-1535		Trauma Fellowship Directors Meeting	Rajen Nathwani, MBBS, FRCA University of Washington Program Director, Trauma Anesthesiology Fellowship
1535 - 1545		[BREAKOUT SESSIONS END] BREAK
1545-1615		Damage Control Resuscitation	Justin E Richards, MD Associate Professor Department of Anesthesiology University of Maryland School of Medicine Division of Trauma Anesthesiology R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Baltimore, MD
1615-1645		Squeeze Play: The Role of Vasopressors in Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock	Thomas E. Grissom, MD, MSIS, FASA, FCCM
1650-1720		CLOSING KEYNOTE - Bringing the Trauma Bay to the Patient: Prehospital REBOA and Resuscitative Thoracotomy in Non-Urban Care	Luke Banks, MBBS, MRCS, FRCA, FFICM, FIMC Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
1720-1730		Joint Military Annual Academic Meeting Conclusion	Raffle prize, thank you Uniformed Services University (USU) National Teaching Award presentation
1730-1830		Happy Hour

All other planners, faculty and staff have reported no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Instructions on How to Claim Credit

Please follow these directions to access the course, claim your credits, complete the program evaluation(s) and print your certificate:

Log in to the ASA Education Center at: http://education.asahq.org/
- If you have accessed the ASA Education Center for a previous meeting, please use your existing ASA username and password.
- If you have not previously accessed the ASA Education Center, use this link to create a free account.
Once you have logged on to the ASA Education Center homepage, click on the tab that says “MY COURSES,” for the link to the 2026 USSA/AVAA/TAS Annual Academic Meeting.
Select the link to complete the course evaluation and claim credit.

To retrieve a username or password, enter your email address at: https://www.asahq.org/member-center/forgot-password.

Note: Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. All credits for the meeting must be claimed by Dec. 31, 2026. You will NOT be able to claim credits after this date.

Commercial Support

This activity is supported by in-kind donations from: None.