ASA Community Blog

Member Spotlight: @Lois Connolly , MD, FASA Nominated by: @Jesse Ehrenfeld , MD, FASA Reason for Nomination: "She created and leads a highly successful AA training program!" (Is there an ASA member you'd like to nominate for a Spotlight? Tell us here. ) Looks like you’ve made the “America’s Top Physicians” list quite a few years running! What qualities do you consider essential to being an excellent doctor? Pay the $100! All kidding aside… Qualifications being assumed and nurtured with lifelong learning, the qualities essential to being an excellent doctor mirror those of excellent leaders: Be humble: You will not know all ...

The deleterious effects of sleep deprivation on human physiology and psychology are well documented, yet we as anesthesiologists have yet to fully understand the implications. When considering behavioral factors affecting perioperative patients, sleep disturbance should not be overlooked. By Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmed, M.D. F.A.A.P. “Doctor, I could not sleep at all last night” is a rather common phrase we hear on the morning of the surgery. It is also unsurprising – sleep disorders currently affect 50 to 70 million Americans. A healthy sleep cycle has tremendous health benefits and disturbances in sleep are an important initiator and contributor to various ...

Member Spotlight: @Tracey Straker , MD, MPH, MS, FASA Nominated by: @Crystal Wright , MD, FASA Reason for Nomination: "She's director of the ASA Mentoring Program and has done remarkable work!" (Is there an ASA member you'd like to nominate for a Spotlight? Tell us here. ) What first drew you to anesthesiology? Is there a particular moment that stands out for you as the game-changer? I liked the humanity of anesthesiology. There are so many things in medicine that could not be accomplished without anesthesia. Think of the surgeries, procedures and and studies that could not be accomplished. The immediacy of relief and the gratitude that ...

There comes a time in every medical resident’s training when learning turns to action – or at least some sort of direction. While nothing is set in stone (and, in fact, you’re better off assuming it isn’t), there are a few guiding principles every anesthesiologist comes to understand sooner rather than later. In the interests of “sooner,” I’d like to share with current residents a few of my key takeaways from residency and the transition to private practice. Here’s what I wish I knew when I was a CA-2. By Daniel Hansen, MD CA-2 is an exciting year. As you dive into the meat and potatoes of anesthesia, you start to feel more comfortable as an anesthesiologist. ...

Most of us agree that a workplace should be a welcoming place. But the process of taking stock and implementing real change can sometimes feel overwhelming. Where does one even start? The good news is that unconscious biases that contribute to inequities in the workplace can be interrupted. Here are some essential tips for taking your best intentions toward diversity and inclusion and putting them “into practice” in your practice. By Harriet W. Hopf, MD, FUHM, FASA “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” -Vernā Myers Given the powerful evidence of benefit, why are diverse workplaces not the norm? Why ...

Anesthesiology as a profession has made significant contributions and improvement towards understanding and managing perioperative brain health of elderly patients. As such, we anesthesiologists are uniquely positioned to take a leading role in better educating our medical colleagues – primary care physicians in particular – on what we now know about the risks to brain health our elderly patients may face. Here’s some key information to pass along. By Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmed, M.D. F.A.A.P. Typical factors that can affect the brain health of elderly patients at the time of operation and/or anesthetic include age, pre-existing neurocognitive deficits, and ...