from the editor

Happy Holidays to Everybody!

By Sean Flack, MBChB, FCA
SPA News Editor

I’m still on a high following our outstanding annual meeting in Boston. If you weren’t there, you missed a truly exceptional meeting. The content was superb from beginning to end with a wide breadth of topics covered. From erudite science to the business (and politics) of medicine to the most practical “how to”, I cannot think of a meeting I’ve enjoyed this much in forever. As one who enjoys history and context, the final lecture was a fitting end to a great day. I hope the meeting reviews that follow in the newsletter will be equally enjoyable reading.

The memorable nature of the meeting was crowned, for me, by the Myron Yaster Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon one of my mentors, Dr. Anne Lynn. I was proud to be one of many who nominated Anne. However, Dr. Phil Morgan’s nominating speech revealed even more about Anne’s many accomplishments and underlined just how truly deserving an award this was. Congratulations Anne!

If you have not made your reservations for the SPA/AAP Pediatric Anesthesiology 2018 meeting in sunny Phoenix, do so now. Hotel reservations at the fabulous JW Marriott Desert Ridge will fill quickly. Also, consider submitting a Problem Based Learning Discussion (PBLD) for presentation at our 2018 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The online submission is available here.

I hope this newsletter will be enjoyable reading. There is lots to share and digest. Dr. Singleton describes his volunteer teaching experience in Guyana. Drs. Ramos and Lao elegantly summarize features and clinical considerations for Noonan’s Syndrome. Dr. Hansen offers a fasting guideline update based upon expert presentation at the ASA Annual Meeting in October. “Mentors can be game-changers,” say Drs. Lee and Polaner in their article on behalf of the research committee. They want to hear from you ahead of their panel, “Getting ahead faster and farther: why mentorship is critical to career advancement” at our upcoming SPA/AAP winter meeting. Learn more about the success of the revised SPACIES Lecture Series. Cincinnati Children’s has launched an innovative app, Heartpedia that you might like to download to your mobile device.

I wish all SPA members a wonderful 2018. Enjoy the newsletter!