Education Update
ASA Monitor Today
ASA has a robust and dynamic education portfolio, and it’s growing every day. Here, ASA members can learn the latest about ASA’s educational products and hear from the experts who make this education possible.
July 25 | May | April | March | February | January
ASA-ACHE Level-Up Leadership Series agenda released
July 25
The ASA-ACHE Level-Up Leadership Series comprises four 90-minute virtual seminars led by skilled faculty who present on a variety of compelling health care management topics.
Sessions include:
- Applying Design Thinking to Health Care’s Most Pressing Challenges (Aug. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. CT)
- Well-Being: Addressing Burnout Using Data-Driven Decision-Making Methods (Aug. 10, 6-7:30 p.m. CT)
- Resilient Leadership: The Role of Well-Being in Individual and Organizational Performance (Aug. 21, 6-7:30 CT)
- Process and Technique of Negotiating (Aug. 24, 6-7:30 p.m. CT)
$599 for members and $799 for nonmembers. Register here.
May
Should obstetric education be more comprehenSive?
May 11
The fact that four out of every five pregnancy-related deaths are potentially preventable is highly troubling. Authors of this article discuss potential changes in training, as the maternal health care workforce must take action in response to these alarming statistics.
Nakia M. Hunter, MD, is currently program director of an obstetric anesthesiology fellowship and the former obstetric anesthesiology division chief at two Illinois programs. She points out that, despite meeting the ACGME minimal requirements as a resident, new graduates may not be prepared to provide comprehensive care to the increasingly complex obstetric patient population after only two months of subspecialty training.
Simulation is an effective educational tool for addressing case number deficiencies and achieving clinical proficiency among residents. It provides valuable learning experiences in clinical situations that are rare but essential to our medical practice, such as maternal cardiac arrest. Simulation-based training has the potential to improve the knowledge, performance, communication, behavioral skills, and overall preparedness of physician learners for critical clinical scenarios.
Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is another valuable educational tool that is widely used in anesthesia practice. POCUS facilitates the efficient performance of difficult/risky procedures (e.g., central neuraxial and peripheral nerve blocks) and diagnostic studies for the prompt recognition of life-threatening conditions (e.g., transthoracic echocardiogram, focused lung exam). POCUS greatly enhances overall clinical decision-making ability. This article argues that obstetric anesthesia subspecialty training should include simulation-based training with scenario and evaluation-specific metrics. The use of simulation and POCUS training will improve residents’ ability to recognize and manage life-threatening conditions that contribute to the high maternal mortality rate in the U.S., thereby reversing these alarming trends.
What’s New at Anesthesiology® 2023
May 4
Mark your calendars for October 14-17 and Anesthesiology® 2023. In this article, ASA’s Vice President for Scientific Affairs David P. Martin, MD, PhD, FASA, offers behind the scenes information on the annual meeting as well as updates.
There’s much anticipation about the volunteer opportunities and childcare offerings, and this piece previews the works by various committees. Don’t miss updates by the following committee chairs on the clinical content in the following subject areas:
- Committee on Patient Blood Management (Nicole Guinn, MD)
- Committee on Equipment and Facilities (David Feinstein, MD)
- Committee on Occupational Health (Richard Beers, MD)
- Committee on Respiratory Care (Kevin Hatton, MD)
- Committee on Surgical and Procedural Anesthesia (Cassie Dietrich, MD)
- Committee on Trauma and Emergency Preparedness (Marc Steurer, MD, MHA)
- Committee on Physician Well-Being (Amy Vinson)
- Committee on Environmental Health (Jodi Sherman, MD)
April
Call for Nominations
April 27
The nomination period for two of ASA’s most prestigious awards will be closing soon.
The 2023 ASA Excellence in Education Award is accepting applications through May 18. Nominees from academic or community practices who have training programs must meet the following criteria:
- Be an active ASA member in good standing who teaches students, residents, fellows, or faculty in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited (or international equivalent) anesthesiology or subspecialty training program
- Spend at least 50% of his or her time on clinical activities
- Have a minimum of five years of experience in resident and/or continuing medical education.
More information can be found in this article and applications can be sent to j.barnett@asahq.org.
The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) nomination period will be open through May 15. This award may be given to an ASA member for outstanding clinical, educational, or scientific achievement, or contribution to the specialty and/or exemplary service to the society.
Any member of ASA or a component society may submit the names of individuals for consideration for this award. No ASA officer shall be eligible for selection. Nominations must be submitted on the nomination form with a current CV to governance@asahq.org (to the attention of Beverly K. Philip, MD, FACA, FASA, chair of the Committee on Distinguished Service Award).
2023 Anesthesia history association spring meeting
April 4
Just two weeks from the start of the Anesthesia History Association spring meeting, which runs April 20-23.
Explore Oklahoma City and learn more about the history of the specialty. Register at ahahq.com/2023-annual-meeting.
March
Find your ideal anesthesia global health program
March 31
In resource-constrained countries with anesthesiology training programs, anesthesiology is often seen as a less desirable specialty with low interest levels among medical students. A scarcity of trained anesthesia physicians, a lack of monitoring, and unreliable access to essential supplies and medications result in greater risks and barriers for patients in need of surgery.
Fortunately, global health programs are now well-established within many academic residency programs in high-income countries. In the article Anesthesia Fellowship Programs in Global Health: An Update, authors provide information on U.S.-based and international anesthesia global fellowship programs.
Recent attendees share their opinions on Anesthesiology® 2022
March 23
Every year, the Committee on Annual Meeting Oversight (AMOC) is committed to making the next meeting even more innovative, instructive, educational, and inspirational. As part of this effort, we listen to feedback from attendees to get a pulse on the needs of the collective group. Our membership and their educational needs are front and center when planning the meeting, spearheading our process to bring forth cutting-edge educational topics, create networking opportunities, and drive interest in the exhibit hall with entertaining and inspiring offerings.
Read this article to find out what 2022 annual meeting attendees said and what to anticipate in 2023!
Upgraded learning experience awaits you in the ASA Education Center
March 22
The ASA Education Center learning management system (LMS) has been upgraded from Totara 13 to Totara 17. Totara is a learning platform used by some of the most successful and recognizable companies in the world. This latest upgrade comes with a considerable number of improvements, the most significant of which are related to the centralized notifications system, Anesthesia Toolbox-related Learning Experience Platform (LXP) functionality, and AI-enhanced course catalog:
The improved notification system enables more targeted notifications and reminders. This will help you – the very busy anesthesia professional – stay updated and aware of new learning opportunities and deadlines. Simultaneously, the system gives more power to learners to select how, how often, when, and if you want to receive notifications.
The LXP has a robust set of new functions. It empowers you to combine formal and informal learning opportunities and create personalized learning experiences that fit your unique learning needs.
The AI-enhanced course catalog is an important building block of LXP. LXP functionality is especially beneficial for the Anesthesia Toolbox resident programs.
Always looking to improve the learning experience for our members, the ASA Education Team will be working on vetting and activating enhancements throughout 2023.
2023 Anesthesia History Association Annual Spring Meeting
ASA Monitor staff
March 3
Don’t miss your chance to register for the 2023 Anesthesia History Association Annual Spring Meeting, to be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from April 20 through Saturday, April 22, 2023.
This year’s meeting will be held at Oklahoma City’s Colcord Hotel. Meeting registration is available at ahahq.com/2023-annual-meeting and hotel registration can be booked at asamonitor.pub/3GQnhPc.
More details are available in this March 2023 ASA Monitor article.
February
Simulation Education Network Summit next week
February 24
There is still time to register for the Simulation Education Network Summit in Chicago on March 3-4. This year’s event features a joint session with the American College of Surgeons, MOCA simulation strategies, and more. One- or two-day registration is available from $399.
Developing Your Own Statewide Anesthesiology Conference
February 15
For Corinna J. Yu, MD, FASA, hosting a gathering in her home led to hosting a statewide conference! She’s successfully navigated the process of developing the first statewide conference for women in anesthesiology in Indiana with over 100 people. She’s broken it down into a seven-step process for readers in How to Start a Statewide Women in Anesthesiology Conference in the latest ASA Monitor.
Simulation Education Network Summit March 3-4, 2023
February 7
Chicago’s Hyatt Regency and Swissotel will host ASA’S Simulation Education Network Summit March 3-4, 2023.
This year’s event includes a joint session with the American College of Surgeons, as well as sessions on MOCA® simulation strategies. May Pian-Smith, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Chief of Quality and Safety, Dept of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, will deliver a keynote on the role of teamwork in a culture of safety. She’ll discuss research, including simulation-based programming, interprofessional team-training, and qualitative analysis of interviews.
Attendees should come out of Dr. Pian-Smith's session with the ability to:
- Summarize the types of communication key for successful relational coordination
- Describe ways in which enhanced communication has been linked to improved patient outcomes and worker retention/satisfaction
- Discuss novel (virtual) programming that has successfully broadened the impact of interprofessional team-training exercises
Registration is $625 for Friday and Saturday sessions. Special student rates apply, and a discounted hotel block is available through this Thursday, February 9.
January
How “VUCA” qualities help navigate current worldwide chaos
January 20
If you’re considering attending ASA® ADVANCE 2023: The Anesthesiology Business Event, this year’s keynote couldn’t be more relevant.
Speaker Bernie Banks explains the concept of today’s “VUCA world” characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This concept was introduced in 1985 to address external factors and their consequences for corporate management. With insurrections in Brazil and Peru, climate change and cyberattacks in the news daily, not to mention supply chain and staff shortages within anesthesiology, this keynote is the message we ALL need to hear.
As I write this from California, where we’re dealing with approximately 500% more rainfall than an average year, I’m reminded of the importance of VUCA Prime qualities—vision, understanding, clarity, and agility. This may take the shape of circumnavigating more extreme weather systems or a mass pandemic. Bill Gates predicted a highly infectious virus that would ultimately kill 10 million people in his 2015 TED Talk, The Next Outbreak? We’re Not Ready, and now it’s well known that COVID may only be the start of the “pandemic age.” Once a virus hits a human target, it hits an ecological favorable niche due to worldwide travel. Jackpot! I explained this further in my August 2020 editorial, “Meeting vs. Machine.”
The VUCA concept is new to me, but I find it fascinating and very relevant and I think it’s going to wow the ADVANCE audience. Banks’ address will provide the tools we all need, especially as reporting of information is more fragmented than ever. Banks will also share a real world framework for gauging how well your operation can weather future challenges, offer approaches for scenario planning, and help you learn to engage with stakeholders to embrace and harness change.
The keynote is scheduled Friday, January 27, 8:00-9:00 a.m. ET. There’s still time to register.
SEE 39A launches this month
January 18
The latest volume of Summaries of Emerging Evidence (SEE) will be released at the end of this month. SEE remains one of the most popular and enduring CME products ASA produces, and for good reason – each issue is designed with the goals of expanding your knowledge of the latest science and improving your practice.
Each annual subscription to SEE consists of 200 questions and discussions drawn from an exhaustive review of hundreds of articles in the scientific literature. This content is created by an 11-member editorial board and a cadre of question writers, all of whom are volunteers and experienced anesthesiologists in their respective subspecialties and practice types.
Here are just a few topics you’ll find in volume 39A:
- A recent study found intraoperative use of nitrous oxide as an adjunct to general anesthesia was associated with a decreased PACU length of stay, reduced intraoperative hypotension, and reduced need for vasopressors, which was most pronounced in complex surgeries.
- As the number of lung transplantations increases, anesthesiologists and intensivists are asked to cross-cover critically ill patients. A recent review addressed critical management knowledge for the practitioner who has not seen high volumes of these patients.
- Academic anesthesiologists are often asked to supervise trainees with little knowledge of ACGME and the ABA program requirements. A recent review addresses the reality that point-of-care ultrasound is now a fixture in the academic training environment and provides recommendations that can help supervisors achieve competency in that area.
If you want to change your thinking about the practice of anesthesiology and truly impact patient care, SEE has you covered. Questions about the SEE program can be sent to educationcenter@asahq.org. And don’t miss the sample SEE question that appears every month in the ASA Monitor.
