Update From the Chair of the Section on Anesthesiology, the American Academy of Pediatrics

Dr. BrownBy Rae Brown, MD, FAAP
Section Chair

The relationship between the Section on Anesthesiology of the AAP and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia is strong. Communications between the two executive committees are constant and there are many areas of common interest that are being explored. Currently, the two organizations are involved in the development of a statement or guideline concerning the perioperative care of children after concussion. This activity is being spear-headed by Dr. Kirk Lalwani from the SPA and Dr. Mary Landrigan-Ossar from the SOA. 

The President of the SPA, Dr. Randy Flick, recently formed a Committee led by Dr. Jim Fehr to interact with the American College of Surgeons in the further development of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project. This will be a critical relationship as it offers the opportunity to improve our knowledge of safe perioperative practice. The Chair of the Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and the Chair Elect are active on this joint committee. Strategic planning for the future growth and development of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia continues at a rapid pace and I have been asked to participate in this very important work.

These activities are in addition to the other work being done by the Section but are equally as important. It is in the interest of the best healthcare for children that all of our professional organizations should work together to assure that every child is safe and secure, whether in the operating room or not. Integrating our organizations and working together provides for the continued growth of all. After all, “A rising tide raises all ships.” To that end, the collaboration between the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine and the Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine of the AAP continues to be our most important agenda item.

The work of the Section within the Academy includes educating our non-anesthesia pediatric colleagues, general pediatricians, pediatric radiologists, pediatric surgeons and others about the importance of safety in the perioperative care of children and adolescents. This message is carried by the Section in its interactions with all perioperative groups through the Surgical Advisory Panel (SAP) of the AAP Chaired by Dr. Connie Houck, a pediatric anesthesiologist from Boston Children’s and a member of the Society.

Our work with the SAG has allowed for many productive conversations that have touched on safety, quality, and the importance of defining common goals. The interplay between the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, The Section on Anesthesiology, and surgical subspecialists and radiologists in the SAG will be very productive. The maintenance of these relationships will require ongoing work by the leadership of each group, and the SOA and SPA are working now to provide more permanent structure to assure that the organizations continue to grow together in the future in the interest of our little patients.

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