SPA's 25th year off to great start
March is a time for rebirth. Here in Seattle our longer days have been filled with greening trees, gray skies and lots of snow flakes and rain. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to some warm sunny spring days, although our skiers are enjoying another excellent year of powder. Let’s hope the sunny days arrive real soon to the wet and cold northwest.
In continuing our annual theme for this 25th anniversary year of the society, we once again enjoyed the largest winter meeting in our history (over 800 registrants) in Tampa. I found the entire four days of the conference filled with very stimulating and enjoyable lectures, workshops and PBLDs. I want to publicly congratulate and thank Julie Niezgoda and the entire education committee for putting together such a wonderful program. A detailed review of the program will come in the next issue of the newsletter.
The Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) is delighted to be hosting the International Assembly for Pediatric Anesthesia (IAPA) Meeting to further honor our 25 years of support to children in the perioperative setting. The IAPA meeting will be held on BOTH Thursday and Friday October 11-12, 2012 in the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. This meeting is immediately followed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting to be held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., October 13-17, 2012. All IAPA attendees staying in the SPA block at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel will receive a free complimentary Metro Card to facilitate transportation throughout the Washington D.C. area via the Metro (subway). Washington D.C. is a city easily accessible from domestic and international locations. A truly cosmopolitan city, it is home to an enormous variety of museums, monuments and galleries, many of which are free of charge.
The theme for the IAPA meeting is “Safety Knows No Borders” and the meeting format will expand from one to two days to include featured lectures, workshops, digital poster session, panel and problem based learning discussions with participants from every continent. We also will be accepting abstracts for digital poster presentation. The online electronic application process is open (www.internationalassembly2012.org/abstracts/) and will close on Friday June 1st, 2012.
Featured speakers include:
- Peter Pronovost, MD -Quality and Safety Innovator, author, and MacArthur genius grant recipient.
- Angela Enright, MB, FRCPC– President of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists and Order of Canada recipient.
- Mike Roizen, MD – Chief Wellness Officer Cleveland Clinic, Author, television personality and Chair of SmartTots Executive Board.
- Kelly McQueen, MD, MPH – President of the Global Surgical Consortium, Harvard humanitarian Initiative Fellow and Fulbright Fellow.
- Isabeau Walker, BSc, MB, BChir, FRCA – Board Member, Lifebox Foundation and World Health Organization patient safety advocate.
I would like to thank Randy Flick (Program Committee Chair) and the entire program committee for the many hours of effort putting together this excellent program.
An IAPA organizing committee with representatives from 21 different countries and every continent, chaired by Jay Deshpande has developed special programs for this unique two-day event. Besides the two-day scientific program, there will be an evening reception with exhibitors on Thursday, October 11th and a closing reception at the National Zoo on Friday, October 12th. This committee has also developed a program to facilitate attendance by international pediatric anesthesia providers called the International Scholars Program.
To be eligible, a scholar must be (1) from a resource poor country, (2) in the first 10 years of completion of training, (3) engaged in teaching and training of anesthesia providers and (4) will submit and present an abstract at the IAPA meeting. Online applications for this program can be found at HERE.
Successful applicants will receive fiscal support ($2,500 U.S.) to offset a portion of their travel-related expenses for this trip, free complimentary registration at the IAPA and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) meetings, and an invitation to the IAPA Faculty VIP Dinner on Thursday, October 11th. We anticipate that each of the sponsoring organizations, along with many individual children’s hospitals around the world will contribute funds to support up to 50 scholars. Contributors for more than 20 positions to date include:
- Arkansas Children’s Hospital
- Children’s Memorial Hospital (Chicago)
- Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Children’s Medical Center Dallas
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
- Cleveland Clinics
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston/Emory
- Geneva Children’s Hospital
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Mayo Clinic
- Seattle Children’s Hospital
- SPANZA
- Stanford University
- Texas Children’s Hospital
- University of California, Irvine
- University of Michigan
- Valley Anesthesiology Consultants (Phoenix)
As part of the ongoing celebration of SPA's 25th anniversary, the SPA Board of Directors is asking all of our members to consider making a pledge of support to the Patient Safety, Education & Research Fund. We have pledges from 100% of current officers and board members, past presidents, and our former board members. These initial pledges total more than $150,000. Our goal is to raise an additional $500,000 in pledges and donations to support advancing pediatric anesthesia safety efforts. This would allow up to $25,000 in interest each year to be used to enhance the safety of the perioperative care for children through new education, research and/or safety programs.
In Florida, I announced the SPA Board of Directors’ decision to match all donations for the entire calendar year of 2012 dollar for dollar. Thus, a $500 personal donation will result in a $1,000 contribution to the Patient Safety, Education & Research Fund. Please take advantage of this time limited opportunity to further the capabilities for SPA to have a positive impact on the perioperative care of children around the world. Visit www.pedsanesthesia.org/researchfunddonate.iphtml to make a donation. Contact Kim Battle, SPA Association Manager, at kim@societyhq.com or call 804-282-9780 if you have questions.
I will close as usual by encouraging anyone with interest to volunteer to join in these worthy efforts. You can send in suggestions or volunteer for a committee or special interest group by writing spa@societyhq.com. I hope to see you all again in Washington, D.C. as we culminate the celebration of our first 25 years of service to children!
A new editor invites participation
In his president’s message, Dr. Martin speaks of rebirth. A change in newsletter editor is not exactly rebirth, but it certainly is something new. Thank you to the society for allowing me to serve in this capacity. I hope I will be able to do half as good a job as my predecessor, Allison Ross.
Fortunately for me (and you), as chair of the communication committee, Allison will be keeping a close eye on my product. It’s a pretty daunting responsibility, so I am going to make an early admission: I can’t do it on my own! I need your help.
My goal is four newsletters per year. One will focus predominately on reviewing the annual meeting, along with relevant ASA meeting reviews, while another will focus on reviewing the SPA winter meeting. These two editions will be spaced by “themed” newsletters, something similar to the style used by the ASA for its newsletters.
There will also be room for regular columns; the president’s message being just one example. Please send me your ideas. Even better, send me articles for publication! The newsletter is a wonderful vehicle for junior faculty to obtain publications that support academic promotion. Please take advantage of this opportunity yourself or encourage your junior colleagues to do so. Of course, the society represents anesthesiologists from outside academia too and I hope that the voice of our private practice colleagues and friends will be equally represented.
Having described my overall plan for the newsletter, it may already be obvious to you that this edition departs from the declared plan. The winter meeting reviews will appear in the next edition of the newsletter. The International Assembly for Pediatric Anesthesia (IAPA) is rapidly approaching and this edition is intended to tell you all that you need to know about the meeting.
As Ira Cohen details, Washington DC is an absolutely fabulous city to visit and I vividly recall my first visit to the nation’s capital some years ago. An entire day was spent at the Air and Space Museum, another exploring the monuments and memorials. My advice… bring the family and pack yourself a good pair of walking shoes.
More than a great venue alone, expect an outstanding academic program summarized by the program chair, Randy Flick. The International Scholars Program is described by Jay Deshpande and Shobha Malviya provides information about the fundraising efforts of your society. Finally, remember that the IAPA PBLD submission deadline is April 20th and the IAPA abstract submission deadline is June 1st.
I wish you all a wonderful year punctuated by an outstanding IAPA meeting in October.
International Assembly offers a packed program
By Randall P. Flick, MD, MPH, FAAP
IAPA Program Chair
Mayo Clinic
As our 25th year, 2012 is a very exciting year for the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia. The celebration began with our 2011 Annual meeting and will culminate with the 2012 International Assembly for Pediatric Anesthesia (IAPA). This is a very special two day meeting, October 10-12, just prior to the ASA Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. The meeting will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. The hotel is in a great location across from the National Zoo, very close to upscale shopping and dining and only five Metro stops from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (the location for the ASA Annual Meeting). For those that plan to attend the ASA meeting following the IAPA, the Marriott Wardman Park, although not on the ASA bus route, is in a superior location with easy access to the Convention Center using the Metro Card included with your reservation in the SPA block of hotel rooms.
The theme of the special two-day meeting is, “Safety Knows no Borders” and will include speakers from more than 30 countries, all of whom share the SPA’s dedication to the safe care of children. Unlike our usual annual meeting, the two-day IAPA meeting will include abstracts, workshops and PBLDs. An incredible reception at the National Zoo’s Great Cat Exhibit will give participants an opportunity to get to know one and other in a relaxed and very stimulating environment.
The meeting will kick-off on Thursday with a presentation by author, MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, Patient Safety advocate and anesthesiologist, Peter Pronovost MD, PhD, FCCM (Baltimore, USA). Dr. Pronovost will describe his journey into the world of patient safety including his personal experience with the death of a child; an experience that helped launch his extraordinary career in patient safety.
Following Dr. Pronovost, Georgio Ivani MD (Turin, Italy) will moderate a session featuring Isabeau Walker MBBChir (London, United Kingdom), Meena Cherian MD (Versoix, Switzerland), and Angela Enright MBBCh (Victoria, Canada) discussing safety from an international perspective. This includes a presentation on the World Health Organization’s Emergency and Essential Surgical Care Program and the LifeBox program. The WHO Emergency and Essential Surgical Care (EESC) program is dedicated to providing life-saving surgical care to meet the need in areas of the world where burden is high, access is low, and the disparity is great. Dr. Cherian’s lecture will highlight the enormous disparities that exist in the provision of surgical care around the world, including the fact that of the world’s nearly 7 billion inhabitants more than 2 billion have no access at all to surgical care. Furthermore, the poorest countries account for only 3% of the more than 200 million surgical procedures performed each year around the world.
The LifeBox program will be discussed by Angela Enright, an Order of Canada winner and current president of the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiology. The LifeBox program is a not-for-profit organization devoted to saving lives by improving the safety and quality of surgical care in low-resource countries by ensuring that every operating room in the world has a simple, essential device that can save tens of thousands of lives each year – a pulse oximeter.
Session II, moderated by Shoichi Uezono MD (Tokyo, Japan), will include discussions of three emerging technologies that may improve safety for your patients: pulse oximetry based hemoglobin determination, continuous cardiac output monitoring and the use of electronic medical records to continuously sniff for quality and safety data.
Multiwavelength pulse oximetry, capable of continuously determining hemoglobin, has enormous potential to provide the anesthesiologist with critical information in an ongoing fashion. Helen Holtby MBBS, FRCP(C) (Toronto, Canada) will give her insights into this new technology and how it may or may not be successfully applied in your practice.
Continuous cardiac output monitoring has been on our horizon for many years. Justin Skowno MBChB, FCA (Sydney, Australia) will give us an update and let the audience know whether this technology is indeed ready for prime time. The session will end with a fascinating discussion of how the medical record can and is being used to continuously sniff for changes in patient condition, potential errors and omissions in care. Daryl Kor, MD (Rochester, MN, USA) will provide examples of this new emerging technology that can be applied as the conversion from paper to electronic medical records moves forward.
Session III, moderated by Andrew Davidson MBBS, MD, FANZCA (Melbourne, Australia), will be interactive. In this session Dr. Davidson and his co-presenters Serene Lim MD (Singapore), Snehalata Dhayagude DA, FRCA (Mumbai, India) and Walid Habre MD, PhD (Geneva, Switzerland) will describe interesting case scenarios and using an audience response system, seek the opinion of attendees.
Following a brief presentation of the literature, Dr. Davidson will once again query the audience to determine if the evidence has affected clinical decision-making. The session should be lively, interesting and most of all, informative.
Following lunch with exhibitors, the meeting will shift to walk-around posters. The annual meeting typically does not include posters, but this year will feature posters from around the world, moderated by pairs of U.S. and international moderators. The international moderators come from Vietnam, Antigua, Thailand, China, Finland, Brazil and India.
The posters will be an interesting addition to the meeting and, like the recent winter meeting, will be displayed on widescreen monitors. Throughout the meeting, winners of the regional abstract awards will have an opportunity to briefly describe their work in an oral presentation moderated by colleagues from Columbia, Japan, Canada, and Israel.
Shobha Malviya MD, FAAP (Ann Arbor, USA) will then moderate a session focused on International Advocacy for Education and Safety. Kelly McQueen MD, MPH (Phoenix, USA) will discuss the delivery of safe anesthesia care and ongoing efforts to raise the bar through research, advocacy and efforts at quantifying the burden of surgical disease around the world. Her lecture will segue into a discussion of audits and databases from Graham Bell MBChB, FRCA (Glasgow, UK) followed by a discussion of training programs for pediatric anesthesia in Africa led by Zipporah Gathuya MBChB (Nairobi, Kenya).
Day two will kick-off with a keynote lecture by noted author, television personality and anesthesiologist Mike Roizen MD (Cleveland, USA) who leads the SmartTots public private partnership devoted to promoting research efforts related to the question of anesthetic related neurotoxicity in young children.
Dr. Roizen’s lecture will provide the foundation for the next session that includes Peter Davis MD (Pittsburgh, USA) moderating a pro-con debate addressing the question: anesthetic related neurotoxicity; is it time to change practice? Lazlo Vutskits MD, PhD (Geneva, Switzerland) will argue for and Tom Hansen MD, PhD (Copenhagen, Denmark) will argue against. This should be a lively debate as will the pro–con that follows, concerning the continued need for nitrous oxide and discussed by Victor Baum, MD (Charlottesville, USA) and Harald Willschke, MD (Vienna, Austria), with Bruno Marciniak, MD (Lille, France) moderating.
Nigel Turner, MBChB, PhD, MMed, FRCA (Netherlands) will be discussing how the SPA and other Societies can come together to improve care around the world. P.A. Lonnqvist MD, PhD (Stockholm, Sweden) will moderate this and the discussion that follows about the future of international collaboration led by Lynn Martin MD, MBA, FAAP (Seattle, USA), current president of the SPA.
The meeting will shift to parallel interactive sessions and workshops that provide hands on learning in a variety of clinical skills; these include regional anesthesia, vascular access, simulation, difficult airway management and advice on how to start a pediatric pain service. There will also be workshops for those that are interested in starting a pediatric anesthesia society in their area of the world and implementing safety checklists in their hospital.
Finally, there is a very special workshop sponsored and conducted by the editors of Paediatric Anaesthesia intended to help promote scientific writing, editing and the conduct of high quality research in the field. We are indeed fortunate to have the enthusiastic participation of this journal’s editorial staff. Each of the workshops will be led by a pair of internationally recognized faculty responsible for assembling teams of great teachers capable of providing individualized training in each workshop.
The meeting will close with a reception for all IAPA attendees at the National Zoo’s Great Cat exhibit. The zoo, a short walk from the hotel, will provide a truly memorable opportunity to mingle with old and new friends from around the world. There will be plenty of wine, food and music to make the evening a very special end to a fantastic meeting.
Travel scholarship program available to IAPA attendees from developing countries
By Jayant K. Deshpande, MD, MPH, FAAP
IAPA Planning Committee Chair
Arkansas Children's Hospital
The International Assembly for Pediatric Anesthesia (IAPA) travel scholarship award program is a wonderful opportunity to support selected meeting registrants from developing countries. Each scholarship award will cover $2,500 (US) in travel expenses. The International Scholars will also receive other benefits:
- Complimentary registration for the International Assembly for Pediatric Anesthesia,
- Complimentary registration for the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting courtesy of the ASA,
- Invitation to the IAPA Faculty/VIP dinner and the IAPA Reception at the National Zoo.
International Scholars are expected to attend the entire IAPA program and related activities. Scholars are also strongly encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) immediately following the IAPA meeting in Washington, DC. Many of the International Scholars will also be able to spend time at a major U.S. hospital, with a Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) member as the host.
In addition to the formal IAPA lectures and workshops, the ASA refresher courses and scientific sessions, attendees will be able to meet SPA members and pediatric anesthesiologists from around the world during the breaks and informal gatherings. Those who spend time at the host institutions in the U.S. will be able to further enhance their experience by observing and interacting closely with pediatric anesthesiologists in their home institutions.
SPA members still have a chance to show their support and actively participate in the International Scholars program. Find out more about how you can sponsor an International Scholar or host one in your home institution. Contact Jay Deshpande, MD (jdeshpande@uams.edu) or Kim Battle (kim@societyhq.com).
DC native happy to have the IAPA in his neighborhood
By Ira Todd Cohen, MD
Each autumn as I depart for the SPA and ASA annual meetings, I have one regret: leaving Washington when it is at its most beautiful. Mid-October usually finds nation’s capital in the warm days and cool nights of Indian summer. Leaves are beginning to turn and sunlight is starting to soften. Happily, this year the meetings are being held in DC and SPA is hosting a special two-day International Assembly in one of the District’s nicest neighborhoods - mine.
Woodley Park, also home to the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, is ideally situated. It’s just a quick Metro ride away from downtown and the convention center but offers access to many of DC’s unique sights and places. Take a run or bike ride through Rock Creek Park. Stand on the Taft Bridge and scan above the tree tops towards the National Cathedral and the National Mosque. Cross the Duke Ellington Bridge to Adams-Morgan, Washington’s Greenwich Village, and enjoy the cafés, shops, and clubs. Stroll up Connecticut Avenue, passing restaurants of almost every ethnic cuisine and on the way, drop in on the denizens of the Smithsonian’s Zoological Park.
Venture south on foot or by Metro’s Red Line to Dupont Circle and meander through bookstores, galleries, and the Philip’s Collection - a private museum boasting masterpieces such as Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party. Further along the Red Line, explore the different stops, each giving one entrée to other points of interest: Ford’s Theater (Metro Center), the Verizon Center (Chinatown), the National Building Museum (Judiciary Square), Capitol Hill (Union Station), and the Basilica of the National Shrine (Brookland).
So next October come to Washington, DC and stay at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. After a busy day at the convention center or on the National Mall - dodging joggers, climbing monuments, and visiting our free museums - come home to the charms and multiple offerings of Woodley Park. With autumn in the air, even with the ASA, Congress, and the Supreme Court in full swing, life will seem a little bit easier.
Stay at the Marriott Wardman Park for IAPA AND ASA
Why should you stay at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel when the ASA Annual Meeting is being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC?
In addition to the fabulous neighborhood with restaurants and shops (please see the article by Dr. Ira Todd Cohen), there is more.
First, the room rate is only $275 per night, which is hard to beat in Washington, DC this time of year.
Second, and more important, SPA will provide every hotel guest registered in the SPA room block for the IAPA Meeting with a FREE Metro Card. In case you haven’t used the Metro, this is the Washington, DC subway system and it is outstanding. There is a Metro stop literally at the hotel’s side entrance and five stops later you arrive inside the Convention Center.
It takes only 20 minutes and is easier than taking a cab or the ASA shuttle. Just four stops on the Red Line, then one on the Green Line and you are there! The Metro is also the best way to travel around the city to see the monuments and other sites. If you prefer to take the shuttle bus to the Convention Center, we understand that the ASA will have bus service from the Omni Shoreham which is next door to the Marriott Wardman Park.
Another advantage to staying at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel is that it is just a few short blocks from the Smithsonian's National Zoo. SPA will host a fabulous IAPA reception at the National Zoo’s Great Cat exhibit on Friday, October 12, 2012. It is an easy walk, but there will also be shuttle service to and from the reception if you prefer.
Why should you attend IAPA?
The following international colleagues offer their thoughts on IAPA: Its importance for pediatric anesthesia in their region of the world and reasons why YOU should attend.
George Chalkiadis MBBS, DA, FANZCA, FFPMANZCA (Australia)
Head, Children's Pain Management Service, Consultant Anaesthetist
Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Melbourne
President, Society for Paediatric Anaesthesia in New Zealand and Australia
Zipporah Gathuya MD (Kenya)
Pediatric Anesthesiologist
Gertrude Children’s Hospital, Nairobi
Angela Enright MBBCh (Canada)
Medical Director of Anesthesia, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria
President of the World federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists
Marcin Rawicz MD PhD (Poland)
Senior Lecturer, Medical University of Warsaw
Vice (Past) President, European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesia
Piedad Echeverry MD (Colombia)
Staff Anesthesiologist, Clinica Infantil Colsubsidio & Instituto Rooselvelt de ortopedia Infantil
Adjunct Instructor, Universidad de la Sabana and Universidad Javeriana
Chair, Committee for Pediatric Anesthesia; Colombian Society of Anesthesia
Why is attending the International Assembly for Pediatric Anesthesia (IAPA) important to you?
Dr. Chalkiadis (Australia): The IAPA represents a unique opportunity to gather from around the world pediatric anesthesiologists committed to advancing the specialty. Individual societies committed to pediatric anesthesia contribute a great deal to their local region but up until now, there has not been a meeting designed to bring these societies together. The IAPA will join societies to more effectively disseminate information and provide opportunities for our members and those less privileged.
Dr. Gathuya (Kenya): It gives me an opportunity to interact with leaders in the field of paediatric anaesthesia. It will give me an opportunity to discuss and advance our paediatric anaesthesia fellowship that hopefully will have started by that time.
Dr. Enright (Canada): I am a strong believer in the importance of working together internationally to achieve a better understanding of what is required in low and middle income countries in order to provide safe anesthesia.
Dr. Rawicz (Poland): It is the first meeting congregating representatives of almost all paediatric anaesthesia societies. As the oldest and longest serving officer of the European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesia (ESPA), I feel that my presence may serve as a symbol of international understanding and cooperation, which will undoubtedly benefit our patients
Dr. Echeverry (Colombia): It is an opportunity for sharing our clinical, educational and research experiences in pediatric anesthesia in Colombia and learn about other practices around the globe. Because Colombia doesn’t have formal pediatric anesthesia training, the IAPA meeting also signifies the possibility of creating partnerships with formal pediatric anesthesia programs to help us develop our own and therefore improve the education of pediatric anesthesia in our country.
What are the greatest challenges for pediatric anesthesia providers in your country or region of the world?
Dr. Chalkiadis (Australia): Specialist accreditation of pediatric anesthesiologists. Like many countries, safer working hours will reduce clinical exposure especially to uncommon conditions that require and benefit from specialist skills. This impacts especially trainees and recently qualified consultants providing pediatric anesthesia. Maintaining specialist accreditation once achieved, is also an issue that we have only started to address.
Dr. Gathuya (Kenya): The main problem is numbers and training. In my country more that 20 million are under the age of fourteen, yet we only have four pediatric anesthesiologists. If you add Mark Newton from Vanderbilt, then there are five.
Dr. Enright (Canada): I live in Canada and so we are privileged to have a great healthcare system with all of the things we need.
Dr. Rawicz (Poland): Lack of fully qualified and devoted people who would like to work in our subspecialty and access to modern research and training; certainly, there are many economic problems and major drawbacks in our region, but money cannot replace knowledge and expertise.
Dr. Echeverry (Colombia): First and most important is the lack of formal pediatric anesthesia training. Secondly, introducing safety standards for pediatric anesthesia. The Colombian Society of Anesthesia made an enormous effort to develop safety standards for the provision of pediatric anesthesia and sedation. However, it has been extremely difficult to enforce those standards in hospitals and ambulatory centers around the country.
How will the IAPA help improve pediatric anesthesia in your country or region of the world?
Dr. Chalkiadis (Australia): The IAPA will be a great forum to bring together pediatric anesthesiologists to discuss issues common to all of us. It will provide an opportunity to share tried solutions including their pitfalls and benefits, and spark new innovative ideas.
Dr. Gathuya (Kenya): Training and exposure. I hope to interest the people there to donate some time, money, books or journals for our training program which will enhance the training.
Dr. Enright (Canada): I hope it will inform people that not every country or region is as well off as we are.
Dr. Rawicz (Poland): It is too early to predict it now; definitely, we expect an increase in international exchange, wide help in getting access to international research programs, together with help and guidance in training.
Dr. Echeverry (Colombia): In the short term, it will allow us to share and learn from each others’ experiences. I truly hope to disseminate the knowledge I’ll acquire at the meeting and replicate some of the practices that have proven effective in other areas of the world. In the long term I really hope to establish partnerships with formal educational programs that can help us build our own programs in Colombia.
How will the International Scholars Program (ISP) improve pediatric anesthesia in your region of the world?
Dr. Gathuya (Kenya): Short of this, we would not be able to attend due to poor resources. It will also hopefully lead to mentorship programs so the scholars can have a specific person to liaise with for ongoing professional development.
Dr. Chalkiadis (Australia): Anesthesiologists eligible for the ISP are likely to work in environments that require them to be proficient in dealing with all surgical conditions and across the age span. They are not as expert in pediatric anesthesia as those who practice in this field every day. Some are fortunate to attend major anesthesia meetings from time to time, but pediatric anesthesia is not the major focus of these meetings. There is little opportunity to ask an expert or to keep current with recent advances in pediatric anesthesia. The opportunity to attend the IAPA and the option of short clinical attachments in major pediatric anesthesia departments is a great way to pass on knowledge, techniques and the art of caring for children to those practicing in less developed countries.
Since 2004, SPANZA has sponsored one delegate annually from a lesser developed country to attend its yearly meeting. This has been a fantastic opportunity for the selected delegates to attend, learn and network. The ISP is more ambitious in scope looking to bring many anesthesiologists interested in pediatric anesthesia working in similar conditions together, creating useful future partnerships.
Dr. Rawicz (Poland): The ISP is an important step forward, but is just a beginning. This programme should offer to young people, interested in our specialty, the world of advanced training and research. Also, teach them how to find themselves in this international world. One must remember, that despite enormous progress made by our region over last twenty years, we are still a few steps behind the most advanced countries and this gap should be closed or narrowed as soon as possible; therefore the ISP is so important for us.
Dr. Echeverry (Colombia): Overall, creating partnerships to improve the education and training in pediatric anesthesia. More specifically we will welcome educational experiences in our own country by providers from other institutions. It is hard for Colombian anesthesiologists to travel to the U.S or Europe because of language and economic barriers. Having experts from other places coming to our country will make these experiences accessible to a larger audience.
What are you most looking forward to at the IAPA?
Dr. Chalkiadis (Australia): I am really looking forward to being part of the exciting program and the sharing of ideas, making new friends, catching up with old friends, seeing the International Scholar Program succeed and planning the next IAPA!
Dr. Gathuya (Kenya): The scientific program looks very interesting and am I really looking forward to that.
Dr. Enright (Canada): Meeting international colleagues and discussing opportunities for working together.
Dr. Rawicz (Poland): Meeting the overseas group of paediatric anaesthesiologists, not often seen in Europe and to have an opportunity to discuss problems of common interest and also possibilities to increase training and research exchange between all of us.
Dr. Echeverry (Colombia): I am truly excited about the possibility of generating new partnerships with other institutions that will help us grow in terms of education and research in pediatric anesthesia in Colombia. Also, learning about international safety standards in pediatric anesthesia and how other countries similar to ours have modified and implemented those according to their unique circumstances.
Do you see a need/benefit for gatherings like the IAPA on an ongoing basis in the future?
Dr. Gathuya (Kenya): Yes. I think they should be held regularly, about 3-4 years apart. They will provide a forum for people to interact and also keep track on the developing members like ourselves on what we have achieved.
Dr. Enright (Canada): I think there is a role for an international pediatric meeting. Many of us have been working together for years to improve pediatric anesthesia around the world. A formal meeting gives a great opportunity to get to know other people in the field.
Dr. Echeverry (Colombia): Absolutely, I see the IAPA 2012 only as a beginning. In Colombia we hope to create long-lasting relationships with other institutions that can help us continue to grow in our educational and safety efforts. We also hope to contribute on a permanent basis to generate new ideas and projects to improve the health of children around the world.
Dr. Chalkiadis (Australia): Absolutely!
SPA Demonstrates Commitment to Patient Safety
By Shobha Malviya, MD
University of Michigan Health System
The mission of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) is to continually advance the safety and the quality of anesthetic care, perioperative management, and alleviation of pain in children. In the spirit of promoting patient safety, the Society kicked off the ongoing celebration of its 25th anniversary by initiating a fundraising campaign to support the Patient Safety Education and Research Fund.
The goal of the campaign is to raise an additional $500,000 in pledges so that the interest generated will support starter grants for studies investigating pediatric anesthesia safety.
The SPA officers and board of directors request all members to consider making a pledge of support to the Patient Safety, Education and Research Fund. All the current officers, board of directors, past presidents and past board members have demonstrated their commitment to patient safety by making generous pledges that will be collected at various timeframes up to 5 years. To date, the pledges exceed $150,000 and more than a third of these pledge payments have been collected.
Members interested in supporting this initiative by making a tax deductible donation or a pledge may do so by visiting the SPA website (www.pedsanesthesia.org) and clicking on the “Donate to SPA Patient Safety Fund" button on the left side of the homepage. The SPA will match dollar for dollar all donations made during the year 2012. Association manager, Kim Battle may be contacted at kim@societyhq.com if additional assistance is needed.
On October 11-12, 2012, the SPA will lead another patient safety initiative at the International Assembly of Pediatric Anesthesia: Safety Knows No Borders. Featuring speakers from all over the world, this event will open with keynote speaker Peter Pronovost, a world renowned expert in the science of patient safety.
The SPA has also initiated the “Wake Up Safe” program, which aims to improve the quality of perioperative care by reviewing and analyzing the adverse events reported by 15 participating institutions. The SPA thanks its members for their ongoing support.
Peds Passport
By Helen V. Lauro, MD, MPH, FAAP
NOTE:
Purchase of travel insurance with air evacuation coverage is highly recommended to meeting attendees and their families
2012
May 10-12: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland 39th Annual Scientific Meeting
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7631 8887, Fax: +44 (0) 20 76314352
Information: APA Administration Office, AAGBI, 21 Portland Place, London, W1B 1YP, United Kingdom
Website: http://www.apagbi.org.uk
Email: apabirmingham2012@aagbi.orgMay 17-20: Moscow, Russia
The 2nd Global Congress for Consensus in Pediatrics and Child Health
Tel: +41 (0) 22 533 0948, Fax: +41 (0) 22 580 2953
Information: CIP (Consensus in Pediatrics), Paragon Conventions, 18 Avenue Louis-Casai, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland
Website: http://www.cipediatrics.org
Email: mfridenzon@paragon-conventions.com
May 19-20: Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Pediatric Ultrasound Workshop University of Iowa Regional Anesthesia Study Center of Iowa (RASCI)
Tel: (319)-384-9273; Fax: (319)-356-2940
Information: Lorri Barnes, CME Conference Coordinator, Department of Anesthesia, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 6505-1 JCP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
Website: http://www.anesth.uiowa.edu/rasci/
Email: lorri-barnes@uiowa.eduMay 20-22: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Society for Pediatric Sedation Conference 2012
Tel: (804)-565-6354, Fax: (804)-282-0090
Information: Society for Pediatric Sedation, 2209 Dickens Road, Richmond, VA 23230-2005
Website: http://www.pedsedation.org
Email: sps@societyhq.comMay 23-25: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Practical Aspects of Pediatric Anesthesia & Critical Care
Tel: (617)-355-6457, Fax: (617)-730-0894
Information: Carol Costello, Dept. Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02030
Website: http://www.cme.hms.harvard.edu
Email: carol.costello@childrens.harvard.eduJuly 28-29: Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
10th Asian Society of Paediatric Anaesthesiologists meeting
Tel: +8613982269741 or +8618980601541, Fax: +862885423593
Information: Dr. Jing Lin or Dr. Yunxia Zuo, Dept. of Anesthesiology, West China hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Website: http://www.aspa-2000.com/meetings.html
Email: ruan_lin820@hotmail.com or zuoyunxia666@gmail.comSeptember 8-10: San Francisco, California, USA
Pediatric Sedation Outside the Operating Room
Tel: (617)-355-5775; Fax: (617)-730-0610
Information: Amanda Buckley, Children’s Hospital Boston, Department of Anesthesia, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Website: http://www.pediatricsedationconference.com
Email: amanda.buckley@childrens.harvard.eduSeptember 20-22: Stresa, Italy
Annual Congress of the European Society for Paediatric Anesthesiology: Stresa 2012
Tel: +31 (0) 887555555; Fax: +31 (0) 887554702
Information: Secretariat ESPA, c/o Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Wilhelmina Children Hospital/University Medical centre Utrecht Lundlaan 6, Mail stop: KG 02.307.1, PoBox 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Website: http://www.euroespa.org
Email: secretary@euroespa.orgSeptember 24-27: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
6th Annual Pediatric Anesthesia Review (Jointly sponsored by Baylor Health Care System and A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education)
Tel: (800)-222-6927
Information: Northwest American Seminars, P.O. Box 2797, Pasco, WA 99302
Website: http://www.nwas.com
Email: info@nwas.comOctober 5-9: Istanbul, Turkey
4th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies/23rd European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC) Medical and Nursing Congress
Tel: + 41 22 908 0488 Fax: + 41 22 906 9140
Information: ESPNIC Administrative Office, c/o Kenes International, 1-3 Rue de Chantepoulet, P.O. Box 1726, CH-1211, Geneva 1, Switzerland
Website: http://www.espnic.de
Email: reg_eaps12@kenes.comOctober 10-12: Washington, D.C., USA
International Assembly for Pediatric Anesthesia: Safety Knows No Borders
Tel: (804)-282-9780, Fax (804)-282-0900
Information: Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, 2209 Dickens Rd., Richmond, VA 23230-2005.
Website: http://www.worldassembly2012.org
Email: spa@societyhq.comNovember 22-25: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Society for Paediatric Anaesthesia in New Zealand and Australia (SPANZA) Conference 2012: Spring Into the Future New Directions in Paediatric Anaesthesia
Tel: +61 2 4973 6573, Fax: +61 2 4973 6609
Information: SPANZA Secretariat, P.O. Box 180, Morriset, New South Wales, Australia 2264
Website: http://www.willorganise.com.au/spanza2012/
Email: spanzaconf@willorganise.com.au
2013
February 17-22: Capetown, South Africa
6th World Congress of Paediatric Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
Tel: +27 21 532 6333, Fax: +27 21 532 6331
Information: PCCS Conference Secretariat, Global Conferences, P.O. Box 632, Howard Place, Pinelands 7450
Website: http://www.pccs2013.co.za
Email: info@pccs2013.co.zaMarch 14-17: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Society of Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA)/American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) 2013 Winter Meeting
Tel: (804)-282-9780, Fax (804)-282-0900
Information: Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, 2209 Dickens Rd., Richmond, VA 23230-2005
Website: http://www.pedsanesthesia.org
Email: spa@societyhq.comJune 17-20: Stockholm, Sweden
Ninth International Symposium on Pediatric Pain 2013
Tel: +46 8 5465 1500
Information: Congress Secretariat, MCI Stockholm Office, P. O. Box 6911, SE-102 39 Stockholm
Website: http://www.ispp2013.org, http://www.mci-group.com/sweden
Email: confirmation-sweden@mci-group.com
June 20-21: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (APAGBI) Joint Meeting with European Society for Paediatric Anesthesiology (ESPA)
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7631 8887, Fax: +44 (0) 20 76314352
Information: APA Administration Office, AAGBI, 21 Portland Place, London, W1B 1YP, United Kingdom
Website: http://www.apagbi.org.uk
Email: apagviadministration@aagbi.orgSeptember 5-7: Geneva, Switzerland
Annual Congress of the European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesioloogy: Geneva 2013
Tel: +31 (0) 887555555; Fax: +31 (0) 887554702
Information: Secretariat ESPA, c/o Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Wilhelmina Children Hospital/University Medical centre Utrecht Lundlaan 6, Mail stop: KG 02.307.1, PoBox 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Website: http://www.euroespa.org
Email: secretary@euroespa.orgOctober 11: San Francisco, California, USA
Society of Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) 27th Annual Meeting
Tel: (804)-282-9780, Fax (804)-282-0900
Information: Society of Pediatric Anesthesia, 2209 Dickens Rd., Richmond, VA 23230-2005
Website: http://www.pedsanesthesia.org
Email: spa@societyhq.com
2014
May 15-16: Leeds, United Kingdom
Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland Meeting
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7631 8887, Fax: +44 (0) 20 76314352
Information: APA Administration Office, AAGBI, 21 Portland Place, London, W1B 1YP, United Kingdom
Website: http://www.apagbi.org.uk
Email: apagviadministration@aagbi.org
Please forward all information concerning congresses relevant to Pediatric Anesthesia to:
Helen V. Lauro, MD, MPH, FAAP, SUNY Downstate Medical Center University Hospital of Brooklyn at Long Island College Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, 339 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201.