Connecting One Generation to the Next: An Interview with Readers of Anesthesia Bridges

July 1, 2026

The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) would like to thank the editors of Anesthesia Bridges: Wisdom for Your Personal and Professional Journey - Sharif Mohamed, MD; Raymond Graber, MD; Amr E. Abouleish, MD, MBA, FASA; Edwin Avery, MD; Jeffrey R. Kirsch, MD, FASA; and Catherine Marcucci, MD – for generously donating the proceeds from the book’s sales to FAER. Mentorship and the sharing of knowledge from one generation to the next are deeply engrained in FAER and its mission to develop the next generation of physician-investigators. The Foundation was delighted to see a book so in line with these ideals take shape in Anesthesia Bridges.

In keeping with its title, Anesthesia Bridges seeks to establish a link between seasoned anesthesiologists and their up-and-coming peers, creating a wellspring of information and guidance for readers to draw from. The book’s chapters are arranged around central themes such as communication and education strategies, doctor-patient relationships, research tips, and more. Each section is then packed with valuable tips, tricks, advice, and anecdotes from anesthesiologists with 20+ years of experience in clinical and academic settings.

The book is not solely for those early in their anesthesiology journey, either. Anesthesia Bridges is a good read for seasoned physicians as well. Whether it’s the amusing stories, shared experiences, or opportunity to reflect on one’s career, readers of all ages and career stages will find valuable insights and truths within its pages.

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FAER interviewed anesthesiology residents and Anesthesia Bridges readers Drs. Mitchell Best, Daniel McCoy, and Erin Vigil to get their thoughts on the book. We are pleased to share their responses with you below.

This book seeks to – among other things – establish a bridge of knowledge and understanding between veteran anesthesiologists and future generations following in their footsteps. How successful would you say Anesthesia Bridges is in creating this bridge, and is there anything you would like to say to the many experienced anesthesiologists who contributed to this book?

“Anesthesia Bridges does an effective job ‘bridging’ knowledge and experience between generations. Despite the advancements and changes in practice that have occurred over the past half-century, the underlying themes, messages, and lessons learned are ubiquitous. To those who contributed to this book, I would like to say thank you for your willingness to divulge not only the best successes, but what may have been some of the most stressful, bleak, or even sad moments in your careers for future professionals to learn from.”
- Mitchell Best, MD; Resident, Department of Anesthesiology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

“Anesthesia Bridges succeeds because it captures lessons that are rarely found in traditional textbooks. Medical training does an excellent job teaching physiology, pharmacology, and procedural skills, but many of the most important lessons in a career come from lived experience. This book provides a way for seasoned anesthesiologists to share the wisdom they gained through successes, setbacks, leadership roles, mentorship, life and patient care experiences. As a medical student preparing to enter residency, I found it incredibly valuable to learn directly from physicians who have spent decades navigating our profession. To the contributors, thank you for your generosity and honesty. By sharing your stories and perspectives, you have created a resource that will guide and inspire future generations of anesthesiologists.”
- Daniel McCoy, MD; Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine at Stanford University

“Anesthesia Bridges succeeds at exactly what its title promises. By gathering short, candid chapters from senior physicians across communication, leadership, career development, and clinical practice, it preserves the kind of hard-won "keystone" knowledge that usually disappears when a generation retires. The bridge metaphor isn't decorative; it captures how each contributor's experience becomes a foundation a younger colleague can build on instead of starting over. To the experienced anesthesiologists who contributed: thank you for sharing not just your triumphs, but your mistakes and course corrections. That honesty is what makes the book usable rather than merely inspirational, and it's a genuine act of generosity toward people you'll never meet.”
- Erin Vigil, MD; Resident, Department of Anesthesiology at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)

Why would you encourage others to consider reading Anesthesia Bridges?

“I would encourage all those who practice anesthesiology to read Anesthesia Bridges due to its uniqueness. While it is formatted and served in the familiar textbook style that all of us in medicine are accustomed to, the lessons conveyed are in the form of allegory rather than strict facts and evidence. This humanistic approach not only permits more engagement as we relate the situations to our own careers, but makes the messages more impactful and likely to persevere.”
- Mitchell Best, MD

“I would encourage others to read Anesthesia Bridges because it offers practical wisdom for the anesthesiologist life and career. The book addresses topics that every physician encounters but that are often underrepresented or entirely unrepresented in formal training, including communication, leadership, mentorship, career development, resilience, and professional fulfillment. One of its greatest strengths is that the chapters are concise and highly accessible, making it easy to read a few pages or excerpts and immediately gain valuable insights. Whether you are a medical student exploring anesthesiology, a resident developing your professional identity, or an experienced physician reflecting on your career, there is something meaningful to learn. The book reminds readers that becoming an excellent anesthesiologist involves much more than mastering clinical knowledge alone.”
- Daniel McCoy, MD

“It is a rare professional book that you can open anywhere and walk away with something practical. The chapters are short and self-contained, so you can read one between cases. It spans the whole arc of a career – communication, professionalism, leadership, promotion, teaching, the doctor-patient relationship, and clinical judgment – so it stays relevant whether you're a resident or a department chair. Most clinical texts teach you how to do the work; this one teaches you how to navigate the profession around the work. That's the part nobody formally trains you for, and it's where careers are actually made or stalled.”
- Erin Vigil, MD

Of the various topic sections covered in Anesthesia Bridges, such as communication and educational strategies, career pathways and advancement, and research tips, was there a single section that resonated particularly strongly with you? Or a specific anecdote or story?

“I wouldn’t say there was a particular topic or section that specifically resonated more strongly than others as each offered specific stories and lessons I found more relevant or relatable. To that end, I found myself oftentimes targeting and focusing on the topics written by faculty I have had the pleasure of working with directly during my residency training. Those sections – spanning from questions of mortality to the simple avoidance of medication errors – resonated greatly at a personal level.”
- Mitchell Best, MD

“The section that resonated most strongly with me was the discussion of mentorship and professional development. Throughout my own journey I have benefited tremendously from mentors who invested their time and guidance in me. Several contributors emphasized that careers are shaped not only by individual effort, but also by the relationships we build and the people willing to share their experience. I was particularly struck by stories describing how a single conversation, opportunity, or mentor altered the trajectory of a career. Those anecdotes reinforced my belief that mentorship is one of the most meaningful and lasting contributions we can make to our profession, and they inspired me to continue paying that investment forward throughout my career.”
- Daniel McCoy, MD

“The Communication section resonated most with me. It's easy to treat communication as the ‘soft’ part of medicine, but the book frames it as a core clinical skill: listening well, getting names right, tailoring your message to the room, and not reacting in anger during conflict. The early line that mistakes are ‘the bridge between inexperience and wisdom’ reframed how I think about my own early errors.”
- Erin Vigil, MD

What would you consider your greatest overall takeaway on reading Anesthesia Bridges?

“My greatest overall takeaway, and perhaps biggest surprise from this book, would be how universal the experiences shared by many different practitioners are, and how otherwise innocuous the lessons would present themselves. Sure, there are a few truly exciting and interesting stories in this text – from an airplane transporting a heart transplant sliding off the runway in inclement weather to being the first responder to an obtunded patient on a train – but, largely, a lot of the more powerful lessons shared come from the routine, day-to-day patient interaction.”
- Mitchell Best, MD

“My greatest takeaway is that a successful and fulfilling career in anesthesiology is built on much more than clinical expertise. Technical skills are essential, but the qualities that seem to define the most respected physicians are humility, communication, curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Throughout the book, contributors repeatedly emphasized the importance of relationships with family, patients, colleagues, trainees, and mentors. I also appreciated the reminder that professional growth is not a linear process. Challenges, mistakes, and unexpected opportunities often become the experiences that teach us the most. Ultimately, Anesthesia Bridges highlights the value of learning from those who came before us and reminds us that we each have a responsibility to share what we learn with those who follow.”
- Daniel McCoy, MD

“A career in anesthesiology is built far more on judgment, relationships, and communication than on technical skill alone, and none of those are meant to be figured out from scratch. The book's core argument is that experience is a shared resource: when a senior physician writes down a lesson, they spare the next person from relearning it the hard way. My biggest takeaway is the responsibility that that creates. Whatever I learn, I now feel some obligation to pass it forward the way these contributors did. Wisdom only becomes a bridge if someone bothers to write it down.”
- Erin Vigil, MD

Is there any advice of your own you’d like to offer to your fellow early-career anesthesiologists, whether in relation to Anesthesia Bridges or more generally?

“One of the best pieces of advice, and this applies to all facets of life, that I'd like to offer my colleagues would be to try to talk and learn something – anything – from all those who you work and interact with. At work, that could be from a patient and their family, a custodial worker, a senior colleague: anyone. As we all come from different beginnings with our own unique journeys through life, there are lessons and experiences to learn from everyone.”
- Mitchell Best, MD

“My advice would be to stay curious, seek mentorship intentionally, and remain open to opportunities that may not fit perfectly into your original plan. Some of the most meaningful experiences in my training have come from saying yes to new challenges, pursuing interests outside my comfort zone, and learning from people with different perspectives. I would also encourage trainees to invest in relationships. The friends, mentors, colleagues, nurses, technicians, and patients you encounter throughout your career will often teach lessons that cannot be found in a textbook. Finally, remember that success is not defined solely by titles, publications, or accomplishments. The impact you have on patients, learners, and colleagues may ultimately be the most important measure of a career well spent.”
- Daniel McCoy, MD

“Find your mentors early and stay in touch with them long after you technically need to. Most of what shapes a career happens in informal conversations, not formal training. Say yes to things slightly outside your comfort zone; that's where growth and visibility come from. Treat every member of the OR team as a colleague whose name you know, because reputation compounds quietly over years. And start writing things down – your near-misses, your lessons, your decisions – because the habit makes you a better clinician and eventually gives you something worth passing on. The best in our field are, ultimately, all teachers.”
- Erin Vigil, MD

We’d like to thank Drs. Best, McCoy, and Vigil for sharing these insights and their experience reading the book. We’d also like to once again thank the editors noted above, the book’s contributing editors, and all the exceptional anesthesiologists who shared their stories and guidance in creating this valuable resource. 

To purchase your own copy of Anesthesia Bridges, follow the links above, or visit FAER’s Purchase Support page for a full list of publications with proceeds donated back to FAER.

THE FOUNDATION FOR ANESTHESIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (FAER)
FAER is a related foundation of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). For 40 years, FAER has been dedicated to developing the next generation of physician-investigators in anesthesiology. Charitable contributions and support to FAER help fuel the future of anesthesiology through scientific discovery. Funding priorities include: Research, Education, and Training. At the time of this article's publication, FAER has awarded more than $63 million in research grants and programs since 1986. To donate to FAER, visit FAER.org/donate.